Saturday, December 27, 2008


facing dark times,

bishops warn


THISDAY REPORTER 
Dar es Salaam 

LEADING Christian clerics warned yesterday of a dark period facing the country in the wake of the war on corruption plus indications of growing internal divisions and disunity within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). 

Bishop Jacob Paul of the Anglican Church in Morogoro said yesterday that the reported strife between senior CCM leaders poses a threat to national unity as a whole. 

The bishop made the remarks at special Christmas prayers organized by the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) campus in Morogoro. 

The CCT is a fellowship of local churches and Christian organizations. 

’’There are fears that deep divisions could emerge in our society as a whole and the country at large, as a result of the rival groups within the ruling party,’’ said Bishop Paul while preaching during the service. 

He said signs of divisions among Tanzanians have already started to appear. 

’’Wherever there is disunity, progress cannot be made. We will end up being pre-occupied with resolving conflicts instead of developing our nation,’’ he asserted. 

He noted that a good number of Tanzanians are starting to lose faith and confidence in some of their national leaders, both as individuals and in their collective ability to address matters of significant national importance and interest. 

Bishop Paul said one of the signs of waning public confidence in their leaders has been the increasing incidents of various prominent politicians being booed and heckled at public rallies across the country. 

He recalled the days of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s administration, saying members of the immediate post-independence government were revered by the people because of their unquestionable integrity. 

But according to Bishop Paul, modern-day leaders have failed to inspire the citizenry to tackle poverty, ignorance and disease and help spur development, despite the nation’s endowment with vast natural resource wealth. 

’’We have land and other natural resources, but all these national assets seem to be benefiting (foreign) investors...the people are being robbed of their wealth, which is being handed over to these investors,’’ he stated. 

He challenged the government of the day to convincingly explain why Tanzanians are still wallowing in poverty despite its richness in minerals and other natural resources. 

’’Why should the people of this nation continue to suffer in conditions of abject poverty? Why?’’ he queried. 

Meanwhile in Dar es Salaam, a respected church leader called on the government to step up the fight against ongoing albino killings in the country. 

Preaching to worshippers at a Christmas Eve midnight mass, Roman Catholic bishop Methodius Kilaini said both the government and Tanzanians as a whole were equally obliged to bring to an end this brutal crime. 

He said greed for personal wealth and power was driving the witchcraft-related murders, and appealed to all Tanzanians to embrace religion regardless of faith. 

Bishop Kilaini also warned that the country is facing difficult times as a result of the global financial crisis, and called for each and every Tanzanian to work hard to tackle the economic woes. 


From: ThisDAY


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