Tanzania defense budget rises to $1.276 billion

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.