Tanzania has finally recognised the heroes of the Second World War for their service, half a century after that great conflict ended.

They have been listed for compensation following their participation in the struggle that engulfed the world between 1939 and 1945.

The move makes Tanzania the first East African Community state to register, recognise and honour the veteran soldiers who fought in the colonial forces in many parts of Africa, Asia and Europe.

The recognition ends a longstanding debate between lawmakers and the government over who between the Ministry of Defence and National Service and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should take responsibility for the financially straitened veterans who are scattered all over the country.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and National Service, Andrew Nyumayo, told The EastAfrican in Dar es Salaam last week that the government has decided to take over the responsibility of the veterans to find a way to make their lives better, but did not say how much money has been set aside by the government for the exercise.

Mr Nyumayo said the government has started registering all the people who fought during the Second World War across the country, including members of the King’s African Rifles and the 6th (Tanganyika Territory) Battalion.

The government is also documenting all war events starting with the Second World War through the liberation struggle in which Tanzania helped the Southern African countries fight for their independence, to the Uganda war and the Maji Maji war in which Tanganyikans fought colonialism,” he said.

According to Mr Nyumayo, the government is now trying to establish the whereabouts of the veterans as it has only a few names of the enlisted numbers, as many fighters joined voluntarily.

Those whose files have gone missing will be required to register at the Regional or District Commissioner’s offices with proper documentation.

Existing records relate to 1,132 veteran soldiers of the rank and file living in various regions and districts with the southern Ruvuma Region having the largest number.

The list of Second World War soldiers that The EastAfrican has seen shows that the highest decorated soldier is ranked as 2nd lieutenant and the soldiers as warrant officer two, lance corporal, sergeant and private.

Soldiers who served in the King’s African Rifles in the campaigns against the Italians in Italian East Africa, against the Vichy French in Madagascar during the Battle of Madagascar, and against the Japanese in Burma during the Burma Campaign would be honoured.

Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Aisha Kigoda, said recently that the government does not have the number and exact figures of the war veterans, as they were serving under British rule.

Currently, the registered veterans receive a small allowance from Britain.

In 2007, the BBC reported on a plea by the ex-servicemen for an increase in their allowance to Tsh100,000 ($80) a month.

The money is paid out by a charitable foundation, the London-based Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, which looks after the 65,000 ex-servicemen registered in 47 Commonwealth countries, including Tanzania.

These payments were stopped in 2000 after money sent to Tanzania, but “went missing,” according to a league spokesman.

In the meantime, the weekly payments are being sent via Ally Sykes, a veteran who served in Burma and who later was a prominent activist in the Tanganyika African National Union as well as a jazz musician of some renown.

Surprisingly, the list which The EastAfrican has in its possession does not include the name of Mr Sykes or that of Iddi Abdallah Pengo, another veteran interviewed by the BBC, who was enlisted as soldier number 194595.

According to the list, most of the veterans from Tanganyika joined the 6th Battalion, which from 1939 to 1945 saw thousands of Tanganyika troops who fought in Malaya, Burma, Indonesia, Madagascar, India and South Africa.

“The government objective is to register each veteran and see if the government can pay each Tanzanian ex-serviceman in need and invite them to National Heroes Day,” said Mr Nyumayo.

The government said it is now devoting time to the welfare of its Tanganyika and Tanzania ex-servicemen and will be documenting all events for the memorial for surviving veterans who fought for the World War II.