JPM commissions 205 army officers

 Monduli. President John Magufuli yesterday commissioned 205 army officers to the rank of second lieutenant at an elaborate ceremony held at the Tanzania Military Academy (TMA) here.

This was the first time for him to perform the exercise as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Before he commissioned them, he inspected a guard of honour mounted by the soldiers at the open grounds within the military school. The officers conferred with commission had been under intensive training. He also presented special awards to the outstanding soldiers. Kassim Mang’anda of Tanzania emerged the overall best among all the 205 who graduated.

Out of them, ten were from neighbouring countries. Four each were from Uganda and Kenya while two came from Burundi.

Other officers who excelled were Phynyasi Yona for performing well in the classroom, Frank Kitelekwa who excelled in practical training and Euphrazia Bundala as the best female performer.

This was the second activity at TMA for President Magufuli who completed his three-day official visit to Arusha Region late yesterday.

On Friday, he visited a training army camp in the vicinity where he attended a military drill.

Donning an army combat, the President directed the minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, and the Chief Secretary Ombeni Sifue to consult widely and see the possibility of setting up a textile mill to produce military uniforms.

He also ordered that the Nyumbu assembly plant for light duty vehicles and other machinery is revived.

The plant is located in Coast Region and was established to assemble vehicles designed locally.