PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday met retired heads of the country’s security organs, using the forum to cement ties between the retirees and the incumbent office bearers.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Dar es Salaam, the historic meeting enabled President Magufuli, sitting heads and retirees to deliberate on key security issues.
Present were former heads of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), Tanzania Police Forces, Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS), Immigration Department, Prisons and Fire Brigade.
The retirees thanked the head of state for his decision to invite them for talks at the State House. “We highly appreciate President Magufuli and congratulate him for the job well done. It is not secret, he has done a commendable job, in fact every one of us has appreciated and wished him well to proceed,” said Mr Cornel Apson, former TISS chief.
Retired Chief of Defence Forces Robert Mboma remarked: “We see this as a new thing, which had never happened before… we haven’t seen the President calling us (retirees) for talks. “We are certain that under President Magufuli, our country is in safe hands.
Let all Tanzanians support the government because it’s leading us to the right destination.” They showered praises specifically for what they described as proper running of the government with respect to economic management, fighting corruption and discipline restoration, among other public leaders.
State House Spokesman Gerson Msigwa said Dr Magufuli was pleased by the positive response from the retirees to his invitation. The president assured the retirees of his government resolve to sustain close cooperation with them and benefit from their experiences and expertise.
