TANZANIA: Another Catholic Priest attacked in Zanzibar
A Catholic priest Fr Anselmo
Mwangamba has been doused with acid in Zanzibar, in a wave of series of attack
targeting Catholic Priests in Zanzibar.
Fr
Anselmo Mwangamba was burned by the acid on his face, chest and arms, as he
walked on the streets of Stone Town in Zanzibar on Friday 13 of this month.
Anselmo Mwangamba was burned by the acid on his face, chest and arms, as he
walked on the streets of Stone Town in Zanzibar on Friday 13 of this month.
 |
| Fr. Mwang’amba in his Hospital bed in Dar-es-Salaam |
Fr Mwangamba becomes the third
priest to be attacked in less than a year period and the fourth incident of
crime against religious leaders in Zanzibar.
priest to be attacked in less than a year period and the fourth incident of
crime against religious leaders in Zanzibar.
The first attack was on Christmas
day of 2012, when Fr Ambrose Mkenda was seriously wounded in an armed attack;
While in February this year, Fr Evarist Mushi was shot dead in Zanzibar City
while heading for Sunday Eucharistic celebration. Apart from these three
Catholic Priests, the Secretary of the Mufti, Sheikh Fadhili Soraga was also
burned by acid in an incident which occurred in November last year.
The acid attack on Fr Mwang’amba in
Zanzibar is heightening fears of increased religious tensions on the Tanzanian
islands, where Christian clergy, churches and some Muslim leaders are being
targeted.
Zanzibar is heightening fears of increased religious tensions on the Tanzanian
islands, where Christian clergy, churches and some Muslim leaders are being
targeted.
This
incident of acid attack is coming just a month after two young British women
were attacked with acid thrown by men on a motorcycle.
incident of acid attack is coming just a month after two young British women
were attacked with acid thrown by men on a motorcycle.
 |
| Rt Rev Augustin Shao, Bishop of Zanzibar when he paid a visit to his Priest Fr. Mwang’amba in Hospital |
Speaking to journalist on hospital
bed Fr. Mwang’amba said he is not intimidated by the attack and that he will
still go back and continues with his apostolate when he recovers. “I will
not shy away from spreading the Word of God in Zanzibar,” he said; Adding
that “there was no reason for not going back because every other place on earth
has its own challenges.”
bed Fr. Mwang’amba said he is not intimidated by the attack and that he will
still go back and continues with his apostolate when he recovers. “I will
not shy away from spreading the Word of God in Zanzibar,” he said; Adding
that “there was no reason for not going back because every other place on earth
has its own challenges.”
Fr Mwang’amba, who is the parish
priest at Machui Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Zanzibar told journalists
that his attack is a lesson he has learnt from Jesus Christ who was crucified
on the holy cross and that he has to endure pain for God’s sake.
priest at Machui Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Zanzibar told journalists
that his attack is a lesson he has learnt from Jesus Christ who was crucified
on the holy cross and that he has to endure pain for God’s sake.
News reports indicated that those
who attacked him had waited as he was leaving an Internet café in the Mlandege
area of the island, a popular tourist destination about 20 miles off the coast
of the mainland on Friday 13th September in the evening. Report from
Zanzibar said 15 people were arrested in connection with the attack on the
priest.
who attacked him had waited as he was leaving an Internet café in the Mlandege
area of the island, a popular tourist destination about 20 miles off the coast
of the mainland on Friday 13th September in the evening. Report from
Zanzibar said 15 people were arrested in connection with the attack on the
priest.
Source: TEC and AMECEA Social
Communications.
Communications.
