ZANZIBAR: The Catholic Church in Zanzibar is Still strong amid Threats and Intimidation
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| Fr. Shayo receiving offertory during Mass |
The Catholic
Church in Zanzibar is still growing strong despite of the threats, critics,
insults and intimidation.
Church in Zanzibar is still growing strong despite of the threats, critics,
insults and intimidation.
Speaking
during an interview with AMECEA Online News
recently at his office in the Cathedral, Fr. Cosmas Shayo, the parish priest at
St. Joseph Cathedral in Zanzibae said that despite the many challenges they are
facing as Christian Minority in a largely Muslim country; the Christian
community in Zanzibar remains strong.
during an interview with AMECEA Online News
recently at his office in the Cathedral, Fr. Cosmas Shayo, the parish priest at
St. Joseph Cathedral in Zanzibae said that despite the many challenges they are
facing as Christian Minority in a largely Muslim country; the Christian
community in Zanzibar remains strong.
Fr Shayo
said cases of religious intolerance have come out strongly from the Island of
Zanzibar and the Catholic Church seemed to be the victim of several incidences.
said cases of religious intolerance have come out strongly from the Island of
Zanzibar and the Catholic Church seemed to be the victim of several incidences.
On 25th
December, 2012, Fr. Ambrose Mkanda was shot three times and seriously injures;
on 17th February 2013, Fr. Evaristus Mushi, Parish priest at St.
Joseph Cathedral was shot and killed by unknown assailants.
December, 2012, Fr. Ambrose Mkanda was shot three times and seriously injures;
on 17th February 2013, Fr. Evaristus Mushi, Parish priest at St.
Joseph Cathedral was shot and killed by unknown assailants.
On 8th
August 2013, two British teenage girls who were teaching at the St Monica nursery
school, linked to the Catholic church, whilst volunteering for a charity called
Art in Tanzania were attacked with acid in Stone town and on 13th
September, 2013 Fr. Anselm Joseph Mwang’amba was attacked by acid as he walked
out from a cyber cafe in Stone town in Zanzibar.
August 2013, two British teenage girls who were teaching at the St Monica nursery
school, linked to the Catholic church, whilst volunteering for a charity called
Art in Tanzania were attacked with acid in Stone town and on 13th
September, 2013 Fr. Anselm Joseph Mwang’amba was attacked by acid as he walked
out from a cyber cafe in Stone town in Zanzibar.
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| Fr. Evaristus Mushi who was shot dead in Zanzibar |
However, Fr.
Shayo says that the attackers did not target the Christians only, also their
sympathizers as a sheikh and a government official who tried to sympathize with
Christians by condemning the attacks were also the target.
Shayo says that the attackers did not target the Christians only, also their
sympathizers as a sheikh and a government official who tried to sympathize with
Christians by condemning the attacks were also the target.
Despite all
these challenges, the Catholic Church remains strong and is growing. It has
eight parishes of which six are in Zanzibar (Unguja) and two in Pemba. However,
St. Joseph Cathedral is the biggest in terms of size and population, which is
about 4500 according to 2013 censors.
these challenges, the Catholic Church remains strong and is growing. It has
eight parishes of which six are in Zanzibar (Unguja) and two in Pemba. However,
St. Joseph Cathedral is the biggest in terms of size and population, which is
about 4500 according to 2013 censors.
The diocese
has a total of twelve priests among them ten diocesan and two Holy Ghost
Fathers. In addition to this, there are four women religious congregations,
which include Our Lady of Husambara from Tanga; Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sisters from Morogoro, Precious Blood Sisters from Nairobi and Evangelizing
Sisters of Mary also from Nairobi.
has a total of twelve priests among them ten diocesan and two Holy Ghost
Fathers. In addition to this, there are four women religious congregations,
which include Our Lady of Husambara from Tanga; Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sisters from Morogoro, Precious Blood Sisters from Nairobi and Evangelizing
Sisters of Mary also from Nairobi.
The diocese
also has about twenty Nursery Schools which are spread throughout the
outstations in the diocese and these are open to all including Muslim children.
The diocese has one primary school and one secondary school which are also open
to all. The diocese also runs a formation school that takes pupils who have
completed class seven who go for a one year course studying English, Mathematics
and Science. However, the formation school which is for both boys and girls
only admit Christian pupils of which upon successful completion, some may go to
the seminaries while others join other ordinary secondary schools. The diocese
also runs one technical training centre which is a community college offering
courses in carpentry, masonry, tailoring etc.
also has about twenty Nursery Schools which are spread throughout the
outstations in the diocese and these are open to all including Muslim children.
The diocese has one primary school and one secondary school which are also open
to all. The diocese also runs a formation school that takes pupils who have
completed class seven who go for a one year course studying English, Mathematics
and Science. However, the formation school which is for both boys and girls
only admit Christian pupils of which upon successful completion, some may go to
the seminaries while others join other ordinary secondary schools. The diocese
also runs one technical training centre which is a community college offering
courses in carpentry, masonry, tailoring etc.
In the
health Sector, the Catholic Church in Zanzibar runs three dispensaries situated
in various parts of Zanzibar. These offer health services to all regardless of
religion.
health Sector, the Catholic Church in Zanzibar runs three dispensaries situated
in various parts of Zanzibar. These offer health services to all regardless of
religion.
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| St. Joseph Cathedral Zanzibar |
Despite the
fact that St. Joseph Cathedral is surrounded by Mosques Fr. Shayo says that the
Muslims however do not interfere with the programs at the parish especially
Mass because the parish has schedules that do not coincide with the Muslims
prayer times. “No services are held when the Muslims are doing their prayers,
which in most cases come out very loud through the speakers and towers in the
Mosques.”
fact that St. Joseph Cathedral is surrounded by Mosques Fr. Shayo says that the
Muslims however do not interfere with the programs at the parish especially
Mass because the parish has schedules that do not coincide with the Muslims
prayer times. “No services are held when the Muslims are doing their prayers,
which in most cases come out very loud through the speakers and towers in the
Mosques.”
In other
instances, Fr. Shayo explained that young Muslim men lure Christian women into
marriage and eventually converting them to Islam. This is succeeding because of
poverty of the minority Christian families in the island. Because of abject
poverty, young Christian girls and boys are lured into marriage with a promise
of wealth and are eventually converted to Islam.
instances, Fr. Shayo explained that young Muslim men lure Christian women into
marriage and eventually converting them to Islam. This is succeeding because of
poverty of the minority Christian families in the island. Because of abject
poverty, young Christian girls and boys are lured into marriage with a promise
of wealth and are eventually converted to Islam.
Fr. Shayo
added that some Muslims have a habit of intimidating Christians, by abusing and
calling them infidels however, the Clergy and religious men and women who are never
spared from such verbal attack have learnt not to retaliate. “This is the
secret of survival, unless it is a physical attack where one would log a complaint
by the police; we often turn deaf to such insults, and we always advice
Christians to do the same,” he explained.
added that some Muslims have a habit of intimidating Christians, by abusing and
calling them infidels however, the Clergy and religious men and women who are never
spared from such verbal attack have learnt not to retaliate. “This is the
secret of survival, unless it is a physical attack where one would log a complaint
by the police; we often turn deaf to such insults, and we always advice
Christians to do the same,” he explained.
He said that
some radical Muslims often use recorded preaching which advocates for religious
hatred and intolerance which are often communicated through loud speakers for
purposes of intimidation and threats. The government has banned such preaching,
but the practice is still going on.
some radical Muslims often use recorded preaching which advocates for religious
hatred and intolerance which are often communicated through loud speakers for
purposes of intimidation and threats. The government has banned such preaching,
but the practice is still going on.
Source: AMECEA Social Communications
