Their secretary, Linus Steven, said at a meeting in the city that the unemployment of the thousands of former National Service volunteers was mainly due to nepotism.
He said many people who had never served as National Service were directly given jobs at various government bodies like the Immigration Department, Police, and Fire and Rescue Brigade, “all being posts for which former volunteers like us have the requisite training”.
According to him, they were trained just like any other soldiers with all military techniques and skills. They say if allowed they can seek employment opportunities in the neighbouring countries.
"There are countries that are still fighting with ex - rebels. Such countries need to be assisted. We cannot remain unemployed while our neighbouring countries need professionals like us. If the government cannot employ us, the President should declare it publically, “he said.
"There are countries that are still fighting with ex - rebels. Such countries need to be assisted. We cannot remain unemployed while our neighbouring countries need professionals like us. If the government cannot employ us, the President should declare it publically, “he said.
According to him, some people who were not even recruited in the national service scheme are now directly employed with the Immigration Department, Fire Brigade and even in the Police Force while leaving the National Service ex-volunteers.
Steve said such jobs were supposed to be a priority in the government civil service, but it is to the contrary.
He said nepotism in job employment was the reason behind leaving most of the ex volunteers without jobs despite that they do qualify.
Parali Kiwango, Ex-soldier volunteer vice chairman said the government has not yet shown its readiness to support them despite writing more than three letters.
He accused some government officials in collaboration with the police force of denying the opportunity to seek appointment with the highest authority to resolve their complaints.
Expressing the current situation, Kiwango said some of their fellow leaders had been interrogated by police, Dar es salaam Special Zone for conducting illegal demonstration.
According to him, they will appeal before the court any time from now.
On January 30, this year, more than 1500 ex-National Service volunteers planned to hold peaceful demonstrations to the State House in Dar es Salaam.
“It should be noted that the demonstrations were peaceful and we were empty handed when we were marching to the State House …we were not going for war,” Ex-JKT volunteer chairman George Mgobe explained.
They were seeking to meet President Jakaya Kikwete in person, a resolution reached after their meeting with Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue proved futile.
This was not the first time, the disgruntled group attempted to stage a demonstration to the State House on December 17, last year but were intercepted by police, barred from proceeding and asked to select five representatives who then met with Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue.
According to Mgobe, Sefue told them during the meeting at State House that he would address the matter but until now to no avail.
“Since we met the Chief Secretary, we have written letters to the State House three times but got no response,” he lamented.
“What we have decided now is to demonstrate to the State House,” he emphasised.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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