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Gen Waitara awards 88 soldiers medals
2007-09-04 09:38:45
By Jane Mkonya
The retiring Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. George Waitara has awarded 88 soldiers with various medals for their contributions in the building of the nation.
The medals were given in various categories which included exemplary service medal to six officers, long term service to three officers while 79 other soldiers were awarded with long term service and disciplinary medal.
Speaking at the function held at JKT Secondary school, Mgulani in Dar es Salaam over the weekend Gen. Waitara defined a medal was an identification of service or an action done by a soldier while serving the army.
Gen. Waitara said those awarded exemplary service medal and long term services had saved the army for about fifteen to twenty years with discipline.
He noted that all officers awarded with medals should work hard so that they maintain their medals.
``These medals can not be compared with money, they represent respect and once you honoured you should not go against, because you may loose it, though so far no one has lost his medal,`` he said.
Gen. Waitara said he was expecting to retire by September 14, this year and the official farewell will be held on September 15.
``I have been serving the army for about 36 years and seven months and become the sixth Major General in the country,`` he said.
He further said that he was happy with his retirement as he would leave the army in good shape after he had made some improvement.
Explaining about discipline, he said the situation had improved though there were few people who distorted the image of the army.
``Currently, discipline in the army is high, though in any community there must be a few people with perverted behaviour,`` he said.
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