TANZANIA: Government Upgrades St. Augustine University Mbeya Centre to Constituent College
Sarah Pelaji
The Constituent college is now officially known as Catholic University College of Mbeya.
This comes after completing all the formalities under the Tanzania Colleges and Universities Commission (TCU)
Mbeya Regional Commissioner Hon. Albert Chalamila has officially inaugurated and declared the college now a collaborative University of the Catholic Church on 5th August 2020.
Speaking during the thanksgiving Mass, President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga thanked the government for upgrading the SAUT Mbeya Centre.
“We are grateful for this step. As the Catholic Church in Tanzania, we promise to provide education that responds to people’s challenges according to current needs,” he said.
“When we heard rumors about this good news of upgrading our Centre, we had few concerns and wondered if it was really time to become a Constituent College. Our questions are valid because currently, universities in the country are undergoing difficult times of self-assessment, self- evaluation and failure to go at a normal pace. In that case we were also worried, ”explained Bishop Nyaisonga.
He said the fact remains that the educational institutions at all levels are fighting a legitimate war against all forms of tyranny.
“Any effort to provide education is a boon against tyrannical forces that oppress man. Since it is a legitimate war against the oppressive forces, man must fight to win.
Even when the struggle is difficult, the fighters are always called to evaluate their vision, their responsibility and look at their vision to ensure victory,” he said.
Most Rev. Nyaisonga went on saying that this is the reason why, “despite the difficulty of establishing and developing educational institutions, the Church feels that it has a responsibility to fight against all that suppress humanity.
“We need universities because it is a tool of evangelization. Without the Good News, one’s status, ethnicity or identity is meaningless. Everyone needs Good News. Our purpose is not business investment or personal gain.
