TANZANIA: Catholic Bishops (TEC) Warns Tanzanians

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), has asked Tanzanians to reflect on controversies going on within political parties and also to reflect on individual political party in regards to what they signify and to whom they benefit.

The conference also observed that as Tanzania celebrates 50 years of independence, certain vices such as egoism/selfishness, greedy for wealth and lack of consideration for others continue to thrive in the country and has almost become a way of life for many.

President of the conference, Most Rev Archbishop, Jude Thadeus Ruwa’ichi said this during the Thanksgiving Holy Mass celebrations to mark 50 years of independence, which was organized by TEC at St. Joseph Cathedral, Dar es Salaam.

He said that due to the selfishness, the Tanzanian society has been divided into strata which have the poor as the majority with only a few thriving illegitimately.

In the celebration that was attended by more than 15 Bishops and more than 30 Priests, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi said that people have been using illegitimate means to become rapidly rich, something which humiliates the country.

“The society is so insatiable for wealth to the extent people are thinking of becoming rich through albino. This is clearly a loss of vision for our people,”  he said adding that “Soon after independence, the people of Tanzania were a united lot; it is therefore unfortunate that as the years go by, discrimination on the basis of religion, race and political party have become rampant everywhere.

He said that in these 50 years of independence Tanzanians should reflect on whether the nation’s plans rely on God or not since it has become apparent that national resources have been benefiting only very few people.

“In order to build a strong foundation for the next 50 years, we need to go back to our roots while giving God due respect in every plan we are strategizing. At the same time, we need to ask God for forgiveness for the many atrocities we have committed and pray that we may acquire His Graces and Blessing for the journey ahead of us so that we may be able to endure the challenges of the coming years,” he said.