WISE NEWS

I share your pain, JK tells families of fallen soldiers

“ I received the information of the demise of our soldiers who went to Darfur to participate in a peacekeeping mission, received the sad information with big shock and sadness,” President Jakaya Kikwete Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday sent a message of condolence to the Chief of Defence Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), General Davis Mwamunyange, on the untimely death of two soldiers in a peacekeeping mission in Darfur region, Sudan, on Sunday. Sergeant Julius Chacha and Private Anthon Daniel drowned as they tried to cross a flooded river in Darfur. They were part of a contingent of 850 soldiers comprising the Tanzanian Sixth Battalion and had arrived in Darfur early this month to replace colleagues who had completed a six-month tour of duty. According to the army spokesman, Col Kapambala Mgawe, the two drowned when strong currents swept away their vehicle as they crossed a flooded river. Their bodies were recovered about 200 metres away from the point at which the vehicle went under. The body of a third soldier in their company, Corporal Yusuph Said of the School of Military Infantry in Arusha, had yet to be found as we went to press.  In a statement released by the directorate of information of the State House, President Kikwete said he was shocked by the death of the men and confided that he shared the pain of their families and other members of TPDF. “I received the information of the demise of our soldiers who went to Darfur to participate in peacekeeping mission, received the sad information with big shock and sadness,” explained President Kikwete. The Head of State, who is also the Commander in Chief of the TPDF, said he was saddened by their death but had also taken into consideration that the fallen soldiers had been serving the nation.  “We will always remember these soldiers for their great contribution to this country and the African continent at large,” he added. “They have died while attending to the very important duty of protecting and maintaining peace on the continent.” The Head of State requested the Chief of Defence to pass his condolences to other military officials in the country and to the families of the deceased.  “Let them know that I am with them in this difficult moment,” said President Kikwete. The President also sent a similar message to the soldiers who are still on the peace-keeping mission. TPDF is currently working out arrangements to fly the bodies of the duo home after procedures are finalised and burial arrangements made. “We  are taking precautions on this matter,” Col Mgawe said. “We all know that these soldiers have families and we are therefore handling this matter very carefully to make sure there are no problems caused by shock and other things of such nature.” In the meantime, the United Nations is playing a big role in making arrangements to fly the bodies home. Col Mgawe added: “Some of the issues are being handled by UN, therefore it will not be good for me to explain everything. What I can say is that we should keep waiting. TPDF will inform you when it is in good position to do so.” Tanzania has sent some 1,081 peacekeepers on UN missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Lebanon and Darfur.