TANZANIA: ‘Help Political Leaders to Uphold Peace’ Religious Leaders Urged as They Assess Shortcomings of General Elections
Retired Prime Minister of The United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Joseph Sinde Warioba
Pascal Mwanache, TEC
Retired Prime Minister of The United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Joseph Sinde Warioba has called on religious leaders in the country to mobilize political leaders and stakeholders and engage them in efforts to reflect on various issues related to peace.
Speaking during a two-day meeting of religious leaders in the country from the Christian Community of Tanzania (CCT), the Council of Tanzania Muslims (BAKWATA) and the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) who met to assess peace and development after the General election, Warioba also urged country’s Electoral Commission (NEC) to work through the legitimate procedures during elections.
“You are the ones who are striving to maintain the peace of this country. Your voice has been very helpful in strengthening peace, I urge you to go further. Help political leaders follow your example. Let them meet together, reflect and make a decision that will strengthen peace despite their differences. If we do not reflect and act we may lose our peace,” said Judge Warioba.
In addition, Judge Warioba cited some of the shortcomings that emerged during the General Elections that indicate a breach of the peace that include the removal of agents by procedures that contradict the requirements of the Constitution and the nomination of candidates by political parties instead of respecting the wishes of the people.
“Parties should reconsider the procedures to know if the nominee is acceptable wherever he goes. He must be a representative of the people and not of the institution. People are starting to lose faith because they choose someone they want but parties come up with someone else,” he stressed.
On his part, the Chairman of BAKWATA Sheikh Hamis Mataka said that what happened during the General Elections is a lesson that people need to reflect on in order to refrain from doing things that tarnish the electoral process.
“Where there is no peace there can be no definite development. Peace is the key to prosperity and development. The oppressed do not understand us whenever we keep silence in the time of evil. So, we must also rebuke evil with the same force, never remain silent in it” he noted.
Secretary General of TEC Rev. Dr. Charles Kitima said that peace is built if everyone adheres to the principles of equality and respects the country’s constitution and laws with integrity.
“You can’t always deprive a person of his basic right to think that he will be tolerant, it will get to the point where if he is not heard he will start thinking maybe he will seek it out with a complaint. We must restore the integrity of the individual in matters pertaining to the lives of all. Leadership involves the lives of all. Without justice you will deprive them of their basic rights and degrade their dignity,” he said.
Bishop Dr. Stephen Munga (CCT) has stated that the purpose of the meeting was to assess the shortcomings of the General Elections and to address the issues that may have shaken the peace of the country.
“We cannot speak of peace if we do not have a fundamental view of justice. We cannot talk about development without peace. So, we are evaluating what we can do to improve, if there are any shortcomings in the election. I think it is a noble way to reduce the shortcomings that can shake the peace,” he said.
