Defence and National Service Minister Dr Rhimo Nyansaho has urged Tanzanians to use sport as a platform to strengthen peace, unity and national cohesion, as the 2026 Tanzania Armed Forces Sports Championships (BAMMATA) got underway in Mwanza.
Dr Nyansaho made the call on Monday, September 21, 2026, at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Ilemela District, where Zanzibar Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla officially opened the championships.
The event is being held under the theme “BAMMATA 2026, Tanzania is ours all, let us unite to maintain peace.”
Dr Nyansaho said the theme should encourage Tanzanians to recognise their shared responsibility in safeguarding peace, unity and solidarity, with sport serving as one of the platforms that can bring people together.
He also commended athletes from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and the organisers, urging participants to compete with discipline, friendship and respect while contributing to the growth of sport in the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Hemed challenged athletes to use the competition to demonstrate their talents and abilities while observing fairness, sporting rules and ethics.
He also called on referees and other officials to perform their duties professionally and fairly, while athletes were urged to respect competition rules and maintain discipline.
“We should not compete through strength and ability alone, but with respect, dignity and by following the principles of sport, while recognising that there is life during sport and life after sport,” Mr Hemed said.
Chief of Defence Forces General Jacob John Mkunda said BAMMATA was also an avenue for identifying and developing sporting talent within the defence and security institutions.
He said the military was working to improve talent identification and development, upgrade sports infrastructure and create better conditions for athletes to reach their potential.
“Our intention is to see the defence and security organs increasingly become a source of top talent and contribute to our nation's success in the sporting arena,” General Mkunda said.
The championships are expected to provide athletes with a competitive platform while promoting discipline, teamwork and interaction among members of the defence and security institutions.
For Tanzania, the organisers say the broader objective is to ensure sporting activities contribute not only to talent development but also to national unity and peaceful coexistence.