ZANZIBAR: Clerics demand action
Religious
leaders yesterday condemned attacks on churches and Christian structures,
pressing the Zanzibar government to bring to book perpetrators of the acts,
which threatened peace and unity.
leaders yesterday condemned attacks on churches and Christian structures,
pressing the Zanzibar government to bring to book perpetrators of the acts,
which threatened peace and unity.
The leaders
who met the minister of State in the Second Vice President’s Office, Mohamed
Aboud, called on the Isles government to institute punitive actions against the
pioneers of the burning of churches, convents in Zanzibar. Reading a statement,
on behalf of the other leaders, Head of the Anglican Church, Bishop Valentine
Mokiwa said the destructive acts posed a bigger threat to the security of their
followers and the national unity.
who met the minister of State in the Second Vice President’s Office, Mohamed
Aboud, called on the Isles government to institute punitive actions against the
pioneers of the burning of churches, convents in Zanzibar. Reading a statement,
on behalf of the other leaders, Head of the Anglican Church, Bishop Valentine
Mokiwa said the destructive acts posed a bigger threat to the security of their
followers and the national unity.
“Our
followers are living in fear, because of what happened to our churches some few
days…there is also displeasure, on their part (followers) over government
inaction and failure to take those responsible to court,” said Mokiwa. The
burning of churches started long time ago, but the government did not act
decisively to put a stop to the acts, he said.
followers are living in fear, because of what happened to our churches some few
days…there is also displeasure, on their part (followers) over government
inaction and failure to take those responsible to court,” said Mokiwa. The
burning of churches started long time ago, but the government did not act
decisively to put a stop to the acts, he said.
“This is not
the first time… 25 churches have been burned so far in different parts of
Zanzibar, and the government is quiet, despite the initiatives taken to report
the incidents to the police. We don’t know who should bear the blame…at times,
it create an impression that these acts have government blessing,” said
Valentine, who doubles as Chairman of President of African Churches. He said pioneers
of the destruction were not hooligans or mentally-ill people, but individuals
of sound mind who have a special agenda.
the first time… 25 churches have been burned so far in different parts of
Zanzibar, and the government is quiet, despite the initiatives taken to report
the incidents to the police. We don’t know who should bear the blame…at times,
it create an impression that these acts have government blessing,” said
Valentine, who doubles as Chairman of President of African Churches. He said pioneers
of the destruction were not hooligans or mentally-ill people, but individuals
of sound mind who have a special agenda.
“And the
government is duty-bound to extensively trace them and bring them to book – in
order to restore public trust and confidence in the government,” said the
cleric.
government is duty-bound to extensively trace them and bring them to book – in
order to restore public trust and confidence in the government,” said the
cleric.
“We are
tired…very tired of these destructions…we want the government to act and take
stern action against people who want to divide the nation and disrupt our
peace,” he noted. Winding up the discussions, State minister, Mohamed Aboud,
thanked the Christian clerics for being calm; urging them to remain patient,
saying the government was hunting for the perpetrators of the crime and will
institute legal actions against them.
tired…very tired of these destructions…we want the government to act and take
stern action against people who want to divide the nation and disrupt our
peace,” he noted. Winding up the discussions, State minister, Mohamed Aboud,
thanked the Christian clerics for being calm; urging them to remain patient,
saying the government was hunting for the perpetrators of the crime and will
institute legal actions against them.
He promised
to forward the clerics’ official statement to the Isle President, Dr Ali
Mohamed Shein, and stressed that the government will leave no stone unturned in
dealing with anybody who wanted to disrupt “our peace and national unity and
discriminate other faiths.”
to forward the clerics’ official statement to the Isle President, Dr Ali
Mohamed Shein, and stressed that the government will leave no stone unturned in
dealing with anybody who wanted to disrupt “our peace and national unity and
discriminate other faiths.”
The acts, he
said, were intolerable, as they go against the country’s Constitution, noting
that Tanzania was a secular state, “whose people are free to believe in any
faith of their choice.” Main opposition party, Chadema, yesterday asked
religious leaders and institutions to cooperate in consolidating peace and
national unity.
said, were intolerable, as they go against the country’s Constitution, noting
that Tanzania was a secular state, “whose people are free to believe in any
faith of their choice.” Main opposition party, Chadema, yesterday asked
religious leaders and institutions to cooperate in consolidating peace and
national unity.
Deputy
Secretary General (Zanzibar), Hamad Mussa Yusuph blamed the violence on youths
who he claimed were trained by one of the political parties in the Government
of National Unity.
Secretary General (Zanzibar), Hamad Mussa Yusuph blamed the violence on youths
who he claimed were trained by one of the political parties in the Government
of National Unity.
Already,
Zanzibar government has banned religious forums and lectures from debating
political issues, stressing that it will arrest leaders of any group doing so
in order to maintain order and strengthen national unity.
Zanzibar government has banned religious forums and lectures from debating
political issues, stressing that it will arrest leaders of any group doing so
in order to maintain order and strengthen national unity.
Speaking on
Tuesday, the minister of State, Second Vice President’s Office, Mohamed Aboud
Mohamed said: “The government will no longer tolerate such acts.
Tuesday, the minister of State, Second Vice President’s Office, Mohamed Aboud
Mohamed said: “The government will no longer tolerate such acts.
We will not
let religious groups use their sermons to debate political issues…they are
encouraged to join the political platform instead of preaching politics behind
religious curtains,” said Mohamed to applause from the clerics.
let religious groups use their sermons to debate political issues…they are
encouraged to join the political platform instead of preaching politics behind
religious curtains,” said Mohamed to applause from the clerics.
He blamed the
chaos in Zanzibar on a group of people who have been holding illegal assemblies
behind a religious curtain to debate politics without permission.
chaos in Zanzibar on a group of people who have been holding illegal assemblies
behind a religious curtain to debate politics without permission.
“Illegal
assemblies are strictly prohibited. Any person conducting meetings or
demonstrations without permit will be apprehended. We don’t want to let people
threaten the country’s tranquility,” he noted. He said the government efforts
in fighting poverty will hardly be achieved without peace.
assemblies are strictly prohibited. Any person conducting meetings or
demonstrations without permit will be apprehended. We don’t want to let people
threaten the country’s tranquility,” he noted. He said the government efforts
in fighting poverty will hardly be achieved without peace.
According to
the minister, Zanzibar is well known worldwide for having talented Muslim
leaders (Sheikhs) who work collaboratively with people from all walks of life
without threatening the country’s peace.
the minister, Zanzibar is well known worldwide for having talented Muslim
leaders (Sheikhs) who work collaboratively with people from all walks of life
without threatening the country’s peace.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN Newspaper, Tanzania
