TANZANIA ARMY DEPLOYED AT MOZAMBIQUE BORDER

By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania

The government of Tanzania has sent troops to it’s border with Mozambique to boost security after insurgents launch attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

Attack in the village of Naunde, Mozambique 

In February this year, the group attacked security forces and civilians in Cabo Delgado, killing people, destroying property and seizing firearms and ammunitions.

Last month, the group reportedly massacred at least 50 people in Muidumbe district when they over-ran the district’s capital Namacunde and occupied the district police command.

Media reports say the United Nations has recorded 28 attacks in the area since the beginning of 2020, which killed up to 400 people and displaced at least 100 000 others.

Requesting Parliament to endorse a total of Sh2.1 trillion for the Ministry of Defence and National Service for the 2020/21 financial year, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jenista Mhagama, said troops were dispatched to the area despite the fact that it was generally calm on the Tanzanian side.

Mhagama was presenting the budget estimates on behalf of her Defence and National Services counterpart, Hussein Mwinyi, who was attending to other government duties.

Tanzania's Chief of Defence Forces 
General Venance Mabeyo 

She said troops have been dispatched to the border close to Mtwara Region to contain security threats posed by Al Sunnah wa Jama’ah (ASWJ) insurgents.

“In March this year, the government dispatched troops to Msimbati and Sindano areas in Mtwara as well as Chiwindi in Nyasa District, Ruvuma Region, in order to strengthen security along the coun-try’s 1,536-kilometre borders with Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia,” she said.

Media reports from Mozambique say the insurgency was part of a struggle for the control of Cabo Del-gado’s oil, gas and mineral riches.

She said the ministry was requesting for approval of Sh2.141 trillion for 2020/21. The amount is Sh286.997 billion (15.4 percent) more than the Sh1.854 trillion endorsed for 2019/20.

In the coming fiscal year, she said the ministry will continue to improve the military through provision of modern equipment, communication tools and human resource. “Improving the working environment of soldiers, including training, preservation of equipment and infrastructure, welfare and improved services in terms of health, office and housing will be among the priorities,”