On the Sanctity of the Military Parade
The
Sanctity of the Military Parade
Richard Mbunda, UDSM
“Fikra
sahihi huja kwa lugha sahihi”- Mrisho Mpoto
I had a long week. At last I could rest on a long weekend. But, alas, I was made wide awake by the beautiful drums and commentaries from the Uhuru Stadium, in Dar es Salaam, thanks to my better half who had switched on the TV earlier. Oh, yes, we were commemorating 55 years of Tanganyika’s independence, the date we became captains of our own ship. In my mind, an image of Mwalimu Nyerere, who was only a year older than my current age- wearing a dazzling smile while holding the ‘Complete Independence’ placard, became vivid. This placard is visibly attractive especially when you pass along Bamaga- Shekilango road.
Jubilant Nyerere on the Uhuru Day
There was a true, genuine, and unreserved
expression of satisfaction in his smile - we were INDEPENDENT! It is this image
that made me realize how important this day was - December 9,
1961. It was the day we were released
from the shackles of colonialism, an inhuman form of suppression exhibited in
many forms including physical torture. The day we were supposedly freed from mental
slavery and, most importantly, the day we laid a foundation for our nation. To our Father and Almighty God, I pray that you protect this nation
under your mighty wings. Amen.
My appreciation of Uhuru Day is deeply engrained in my soul. I have known no other country
apart from Tanzania that allows its subjects to plan and achieve their goals in
a wide array of issue, regardless the hiccups that we normally face. I
don’t ask for more than my peaceful and united Tanzania. Viva Tanzania!
Then you must be wondering what
has pushed me to write this piece? As you might guess, it’s just nuisance
……. oh yes, in defense of the beauty and sanctity
of the military parade.
Let me start with a stupid
question: If all roofing materials are intended to cover our houses from rain,
why don’t we consistently use thatched grass, which, after all, are cheap? Instead, we tend to go for expensive roofing materials for their beauty. Beauty has a place
in everything. Similarly, there is no
question about the beauty of the military parade! Thousands of Tanzanians thronged the Uhuru stadium to see just that. It is irresistible to miss the 'muscular show' from the 'men soldiers' in the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and Field Force Unit (FFU), let alone the ‘slomo’ of our 'women soldiers' who do it
meticulously but with a 'feminine swagger'. If they didn’t know it, they should
know now that it is these foot drills and the ‘show’ of our Special Force Unit
[Commandos] that pool the crowd at the Uhuru stadium and probably attract
many youth to join the military.
Mama Maria Nyerere in the National Service Army
We also know that such 'peak' performance are preceded by rigorous practice and not just rehearsal. In the
military, probably unlike anywhere else, a lot is going through to perfect performance. We may think that all soldiers are capable of mastering the foot drills at equal
footing. However, there are slow learners who, at times, must be coerced to cope.
MY PROBLEM, then, is on the performance
day, especially when the President is inspecting the parade. presidential guards dressed in civilian
suits have been seen walking along with the president without considering the
proper dressing and the sanctity of the parade. At one point on December 9, 2016 one of the secret agents who is a presidential guard was seen
checking on and adjusting his neck tie while at another occasion, the secret
agent is completely wrong-footed with the rest of the team accompanying the Guest of Honour! These incidents crowd the beauty of this important and historic
ceremony.
President Kikwete Inspecting a Military Parade in Tanzania
President Magufuli Inspecting a Military Parade in Tanzania
It might not be proper to question
the mandate and role of secret agents, but, why is it different when the Tanzanian Head of State visits other countries? For example, when President Magufuli
visited Kenya, we did not see such secret agents around and the dressing of the
team accompanying the Guest of Honour was proper.
President Magufuli inspecting the Guard of Honour in Kenya
In international politics,
probably the US president and the Prime Minister of Israel are regarded as
risk targets to terrorists than most of the Heads of States in the world. But
you will be surprised that when President Obama visited Tanzania during the reign of
former President Jakaya Kikwete, he inspected the parade without being crowded
by presidential guards and secret agents !
President Obama inspecting a Guard of Honor in Tanzania
Literature on military parades
indicate that all weapons are inspected before the parade and they are not
supposed to be loaded. And there are special units of the police force,
military and secret agents who are positioned to protect the President or any
other Guest of Honour, including foreign Heads of States during the military
parade. We understand the security of Heads of States must be heightened, and I
would love our corruption-fighting hero, President Magufuli to be guarded
heavily, everywhere. I will even tolerate incidences like removing hands of
‘citizens’ who maintains a lengthy shake of hands with the president, and
preventing others from coming near the President [we have seen and noted that
in several occasions]. But the sanctity of the military parade with its proper
dressing of the team accompanying the President as the Guest of Honour ought to
be observed.
Long Live Tanzania!
1 comments:
Good observation is there any convincing reason must be accompanied by secret agents hence could allay fear from being a target from ill-will end. Good article and real make a lot of sense.
Post a Comment