Samia roots for modern army

COAST REGION: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has pledged to strengthen the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) by ensuring it is staffed with highly trained and well-equipped personnel.

Speaking yesterday during the closing of a military field exercise to commemorate TPDF’s 60th anniversary at Pongwe Msungura, Msata in Coast Region, President Samia stressed on the importance of a modern and capable military.

Dr Samia highlighted that her administration’s goal is to develop a highly professional and motivated army equipped with state-of-the-art tools to defend the nation.

“A stronger military will be achieved through genuine commitment, dedication and a robust economy,” said President Samia. She further urged the military to uphold the founding principles of theTPDF and continue maintaining discipline, obedience, loyalty and courage, qualities she said were central to the force’s identity.

President Samia praised the TPDF for its exemplary role, not just in Tanzania but as a model liberation force across Africa and globally citing its continued display of military prowess, professionalism and discipline.

In her address, President Samia also extended her gratitude to the government of China for collaborating with TPDF during the field exercise, which included both naval and land drills.

She commended the arrival of China’s Peace Ark hospital ship that provided medical services to nearly 8,000 citizens, noting the value of such partnerships in enhancing military preparedness.

The exercise also allowed TPDF to exchange experiences and tactics on combatting terrorism, illegal fishing, piracy, human trafficking and drug trafficking.

This marks the fourth joint military exercise between Tanzania and China.

The first exercise was held in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam in 2014, followed by Mapinga in the Coast Region in 2019/2020 and another in September last year.

This year’s exercises was distinctive due to the inclusion of all TPDF branches – air force, navy and ground forces. Previous drills focused on specific units.

Recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and China celebrated 97 years of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), 60 years of the TPDF, and 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Tanzania, in 1965, became the first country in Eastern and Southern Africa to sign the Treaty of Friendship with China.

ALSO READ: What 60 years of PLA, TPDF celebrations store for Tanzania-China friendship

Besides that, in 1971 Tanzania firmly led the movement to support the People’s Republic of China to restore its lawful seat in the United Nations, as well as being a Permanent Member of the Security Council of the United Nations (UNSC).

The founding fathers and visionary leaders of the two countries, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the late Chairman Mao Zedong and others, established and built solid foundations of the Tanzania-China friendship and solidarity.

Ever since, ties between Tanzania and China have grown even stronger leveraging on the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, sincerity, freedom and justice.

Tanzania and China enjoy excellent bilateral relations at all levels be it government-to-government, people to people, ruling parties and strategic military cooperation to further strengthen the all-weather friendship and cooperation basing on the principles and consensus that has guided the relations for over the