Militaries take off their hat as the saluted president Jakaya Kikwete celebration to mark union golden jubilee at the Uhuru Stadium yesterday. PHOTO|EMMANUEL HERMAN
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In another show, military fighter jets flew over the stadium, impressing guests and all wananchi in general.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania marked 50 years of its Union yesterday with President Jakaya Kikwete leading the nation in a colourful event at Uhuru Stadium.
The head of State arrived at the stadium at around 10:20 am. Tens of thousands of wananchi waving flags and singing gathered to watch a parade and other performances in commemoration of the 50th birthday of Tanzania. Tanzanians from all walks of life witnessed the historic occasion.
It was all pomp and glamour as President Kikwete waved to wananchi who had thronged the stadium.
The military parade from defence and security forces saluted the President.
However, it was members of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) who stole the show as they demonstrated skills in facing various challenges in wars.
Some of them jumped from military jets, about 4,500 metres above the sea level and dropped safely at the stadium.
In another show, military fighter jets flew over the stadium, impressing guests and all wananchi in general.
Members of TPDF also displayed new and modern military equipment such as tanks, armoured vehicles, missiles and many other modern weapons, which according to a TPDF official, most of them were being used in the first world.
The celebrations were also graced by a show of commandos who demonstrated skills in facing enemies during the war. Among the tactics exposed include fighting more than two enemies by hands, breaking bricks by hands, jumping, kicking and using knives to attack enemies. The commandos also showed tactics in fighting when attacked by enemies, enduring torture during hard times and keeping military secrets until their last drop of blood. Prison warders and members of Field Force Unit showed tactics of confronting troublemakers as well as using trained dogs to arrest criminals and trace drugs.
About 3,500 youngsters from Tanganyika and Zanzibar as well as 50 artistes from both sides of the Union participated in the celebrations. The artistes sang two songs which had been officially composed for the day.
Heads of State who attended the event included Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi), Joyce Banda (Malawi), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Swaziland’s King Mswati and Lesotho’s King Letsie III.
Others were former presidents Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Rupia Banda (Zambia) and Sam Nujoma (Namibia).
Other countries were represented by prime ministers, foreign ministers and ambassadors.
They included Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zambia, Egypt, Mozambique, Ghana, China, Zimbabwe DRC, the Comoros, Seychelles, Turkey, Britain, Brazil, Oman, South Sudan, Angola, Kuwait, Mauritius, Algeria, Southern Korea, South Africa and Palestine.
“We are all here to celebrate 50 years of union, we deserve to celebrate because we have come a long way. In these 50 years, we have made many positive changes in social, economic and political arenas,” said President Kikwete as he welcomed guests and wananchi at the stadium.
He said Tanzanians should not worry about the union and that the country had a strong, competent and disciplined army to protect the country.
