By Our Correspondent, DODOMA
Tanzania
The government of Tanzania has requested the parliament to approve raised defense budget by 11.2 percent during the coming financial year as part of its efforts to enhance military capability with modern equipment and tools.
The Minister of Defense and National Service, Stergomena Tax, asked the parliament yesterday to endorse a total of $1.276 billion (Sh3.326 trillion) for the military for the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Last year, the parliament approved a total of $1.147 billion (Sh2.989 trillion) for the Ministry of Finance for the 2023/24 financial year.
According
to the minister, Sh3009 trillion will be for recurrent expenditure, while the
remaining Sh317.4 billion will be for development expenditure.
Apart from purchasing modern equipment and tools, the funds will also
cater to training and exercises, as well as human resource needs for the men
and women in uniform.
“We
will continue to create a conducive working environment for the military,
including benefits, quality healthcare services, and housing,” she told the
parliament yesterday.
The
government will ensure that its military continues to participate in the
construction and protection of strategic projects for broader national
interests.
Among
other aspects, the government, she said, will continue to strengthen the
capacity of the National Service by improving infrastructure to accommodate
more youth who will receive training in patriotism, resilience, national unity,
and job skills for both mandatory and voluntary groups.
Dr
Tax told the Parliament that in the 2023/24 financial year, the government,
through the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), sustained its collaboration
with regional and international communities in peacekeeping operations under
the United Nations.
The
TPDF, she said, continues to maintain peacekeeping forces in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic and Lebanon under UN
missions.
“Additionally, the government, through the TPDF, participates in
Southern African Development Community (SADC) missions aimed at combating
terrorism and criminal groups in Mozambique (SADC Mission in Mozambique: SAMIM)
and peacekeeping missions in the DRC (SADC Mission in DRC: SAMIDRC).
Tanzania
has also deployed staff officers and commanders in peacekeeping operations in
South Sudan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo.
No comments:
Post a Comment