HISTORY OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN TANZANIA

1933-1950 1998-2003 History "Adjutant and Mrs Francis Dare began the work in Tabora, Tanzania (formerly known as Tanganyika), in November 1933, as part of the East Africa Territory. In 1950, at the request for assistance from the Colonial Governor, the Army set up Mgulani Camp, where the Tanzania Headquarters is now located. Tanzania became a separate Command on 1 October 1998." 1933-1950 17 August 1933: Colonel Wilson, Ensign Dare and Captain Madete conduct a survey of Tanganyika and decide that Tabora will be the place to commence Salvation Army work in that country. 21 October 1933: Ensign and Mrs Dare with their family, accompanied by Captain Madete arrive in Tabora. 29 October 1933: 1st Saturday evening open air held with crowds following the officers to the hall where the first indoor meeting was held. 30 October 1933: 1st Sunday meeting held – 17 seekers! November 1933: The Salvation Army officially opened in Tabora – Tanganyika. May 1934: 60 recruits dedicated under the flag. 11 November 1934: The first soldiers sworn in, numbering 36. 25 December 1934: The first junior soldiers enrolled, numbering 16. February 1935: First meeting held at Simbo - 11 miles distant from Tabora – 300 attend the open air meeting. June 1935: Lieutenant Mwalimu appointed as officer in charge of the first outpost, namely Simbo. November 1935: Adjutant Dare and Captain Goldsmith leave Tabora to visit the Lupa goldfields, where eventually the Army commenced its work in Chunya (July 1936). October 1938: Lieutenant and Mrs Simwanza - first cadets to be commissioned in Tabora. The Lieutenant had been the Dare’s house boy. November 1938: Work commenced in Moshi. December 1938: 1st meetings held at the sugar plantation in Arusha Chini. November 1940: New hall opened in Arusha Chini - built by the plantation company. 25 December 1941: 1st singing company inaugurated at Tabora Corps under the leadership of Jessie Dare (daughter of Brigadier and Mrs Dare). May 1942: 1st audit undertaken by Lieut-Colonel Siebrits – he was the first Salvationist visitor to Tanganyika since the Dares arrival nine years earlier. 20 July 1943: 1st Salvation Army wedding conducted in Tanganyika – Amos and Anna Mnyampi (later to become officers). 29 November 1944: The Dares leave for England. January 1945: Brigadier and Mrs C Robert arrive in Tabora, to relieve the Dares. 25 August 1946: New local officers dedicated at Tabora Corps. 28/29 October 1946: Anniversary meetings held at Tabora Corps with comrades from Misha and Simbo joining in the thanksgiving celebrations. 14 November 1946: Commissioner Mackenzie (Acting International Secretary) stated in writing that there would be a change of administration in Tanganyika. Later the Under Secretary confirmed that as of 1 April 1947 the work in Tanganyika would become a Division of the East Africa Territory. 1 April 1947: The formation of the Tanganyika Division. 1950: Work officially commenced at Mgulani Compound - Dar-es-Salaam at the invitation of the Colonial Governor. From these early beginnings the work continued to develop with the Tanganyika Division becoming the Tanzania Region in the early 1980’s, under the leadership of the then Captain David Rockall. He was subsequently followed by Major Lawrence Coleman and the then Captain Seth Le Leu. 1950: Salvation Army invited by the Colonial Governor to set up the Mgulani Camp. 1998-2003 1 February 1998: Work commenced in Bukoba - a new area founded as a result of the rehabilitation and repatriation of former clients of the Kwetu Crisis Centre. 1 October 1998: Inauguration of Tanzania Command. 3 - 4 October 1998: Welcome and Installation of Command Leaders - Lieut-Colonels David & Jean Burrows conducted by Commissioner Patricia Bird - International Secretary for Africa, supported by Commissioners Donald & Berit Odegaard - Territorial Leaders for East Africa. Tanzania Command Flag presented as a gift of the East Africa Territory. Theme for the future: Vision and Purpose! November 1998: Welcome to Command Leaders - Mbeya District. February 1999: Welcome to Command Leaders - Serengeti and Tarime Districts. 1 June 1999: Major Sankuratri Pedda Abbulu (India Central) appointed as the first Financial Secretary of the Command. October/November 1999: Major Beryl Mead (United Kingdom) who though retired came for six weeks to assist us in a Candidates’ Assessment Conference to enable us to select the first 12 candidates to be trained in the Command. In addition she was able to review and revise the candidate’s process. December 1999: Commissioning of the Forward 2000 session in Nairobi, which included 4 Tanzanian couples who were appointed back to the Command. Those commissioned represent the last group of Tanzanian candidates to have been trained in Nairobi. 7 January 2000: Postal Section was divided to become Coastal Section and Moshi Section. 21 February 2000: 12 Cadets of the Crossbearers Session commenced training the Command’s own Training College with Major Linda Manhardt (USA Western) as its first Principal supported by Captains Samuel & Mary Mkami. 3 - 12 March 2000: Visit of the International Secretary for Africa, Commissioner Patricia Bird to conduct the Command Review, the Opening of the Officers’ Training College and Public Welcome of the first session of Cadets to be trained in the Command. 13 - 25 April 2000: Commissioner Margaret Taylor - Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries visited the Command and conducted both rallies and seminars. July 2000: First Cadets’ Campaign - conducted in the Serengeti District. August 2000: The Command hosted the first STOPGAP UK Team to work outside of Europe. The team worked in the Mbeya District and Coastal Section to great advantage to both visitors and the hosts. 9 - 30 September 2000: Major Margaret Burt (Canada) visited the Command to conduct the first 5 & 15 year Officer Reviews of the Command. In addition she conducted seminars for Officers on Time Management and Team Building and then led the leadership team in drawing up a document entitled ‘Strategic Planning for Human Resources’. December 2000: Opening of the Mbagala Girls’ Home - a partnership between DANTAN (Danish & Tanzanian Solidarity Group) and The Salvation Army funded by DANIDA - Denmark. This is a home for 30 girls under the age of 12 who are at risk and vulnerable - the purpose is to rehabilitate and repatriate the girls to their families and communities, following a skills training and education programme. 14 December 2000: Tarime District elevated to Tarime Division with Majors Benjamin & Grace Mnyampi becoming the first Divisional Leaders of the Command. 8 January 2001: Major Philip Katiku (East Africa) appointed as the first Field Secretary for the Command. April 2001: The Command Officership Task Force held its inaugural meeting to consider the report on the Commission on Officership and its Recommendations. 1 May 2001: Several Officers promoted to the ranks of Major and Captain following the Commission on Officership Recommendation on promotions. 11 - 18 May 2001: Visit of Commissioners William & Lydia Mabena - International Secretary & Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries – Africa. 24 - 28 August 2001: Visit of General John Gowans. 12 - 23 October 2001: Strategy Planning Workshop facilitated by Commissioners John & Norma Swinfen, resulting in the initial document for a 5 Year Strategy Plan for the Command. 2 December 2001: First Commissioning of the Command - 12 Crossbearers commissioned and appointed as Captains within the Command. 18 February 2002: 12 Cadets of the Bridgebuilders Session commence their training. June 2002: Mbeya District elevated to Mbeya Division with Majors Wilson & Tamali Mwalukani becoming the Divisional Leaders. 19 July 2002: Major Joy Paxton (United Kingdom) appointed as first Command Candidates’ and Youth Secretary and Major Lynda Levis (United Kingdom) as the first Education Secretary. 8 August 2002: Lieut-Colonel Vinece Chigariro (Zimbabwe) appointed as the first General Secretary of the Tanzania Command. January 2003: Coastal Section becomes Coastal District with Majors Isaac & Edina Pepete as the District Leaders. The District incorporates the former Coastal and Moshi Sections. 16 January 2003: Major Moses Shavanga (East Africa) appointed as Field Secretary.