Tanzania President aligns army leadership as new CDF is appointed

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

The President of Tanzania, Samia Hassan has on Wednesday, June 29, appointed General Jacob John Mkunda as new Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) replacing the retiring CDF who was appointed to the position on 6 February 2017.

General Jacob John Mkunda

In a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in Dar es Salaam said General Mkunda replaces CDF General Venance Mabeyo  has reached his statutory retirement age.

Prior to the new appointment Mkunda was the Chief of Operations and Training in the Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF).

Meanwhile the President and Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces promoted Major General Salum Haji Othman to Lieutenant General and appointed him as new Chief of Staff of the Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF).

Prior to the appointment, Othman was Commissioner for Research and Military Development at the ministry of the defense and national services.

General Venance Mabeyo 

Also, the head of the state appointed Lieutenant General Mathew Edward Mkingule as ambassador. Before he was the chief of staffs of TPDF. All the new appointees will be sworn in on June 30, 2022 at State House Dar es Salaam.

General Mabeyo's profile shows that he began his military career in 1978 when he joined the Tanzanian National Service after he completed secondary school in 1977. 

Upon joining he was immediately drafted into the Uganda–Tanzania War. 

The War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War (Kiswahili: Vita vya Kagera) and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Ugandan President Idi Amin.

After the war, he formally joined the Tanzania People's Defense Force on January 1, 1979 and attended the course of a student officer and received a commission in 1980 as a Sub Lieutenant.

General Mabeyo attended various courses at home and abroad, some of which are Kenya, India, Canada and the United States. 

In his service to the Tanzania People's Defense Forces, he held various positions including Military Attaché in Rwanda, Assistant Chief of Army Staff, Head of Security and Recognition Branch and Commander-in-Chief of TPDF.