AMECEA: Secretary General of Tanzania Episcopal Conference on Preparations for 20th AMECEA Plenary Assembly
Fr. Charles Kitima, Secretary General TEC
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the Church in the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region prepares for the 20th Plenary Assembly to be held in Tanzania, July 2022, Secretary General of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Fr. Charles Kitima has shared with AMECA online in an interview Monday, May 2, an update on the preparations underway and the task of the conference in involving the Christian faithful and other actors to be part of the plenary.
AMECEA Online: AMECEA is preparing for its 20th Plenary Assembly, an activity conducted after every four year in different conferences within the region. What does it mean for Tanzania to host this event for Bishops in the region?
Fr. Kitima: The first Plenary Assembly for the bishops in the region was held in Tanzania in 1961 (themed: The Future of the Church in Africa). Since then the Conference has hosted other assemblies and we are grateful for that.
Normally after a plenary assembly is held, the bishops decide the country to host the next plenary. So after the 19th assembly in Addis-Ababa Ethiopia, we were offered the chance to host this upcoming one. For us we thank our sister conferences for the trust they have in us as a conference and we hope they will find us better than how were when we held the last assembly in 2002.
AMECEA Online: How are the plenary preparations going on so far being that the region has about two months to the meeting?
Fr. Kitima: The fact that we came from Ethiopia after the 19th plenary assembly knowing that it was our turn to be the next hosting conference, straight away we began mobilizing our people by creating awareness to them about hosting our Church fathers in the AMECEA countries. So last year during the Tanzania bishops’ conference plenary in November, we officially launched the 20th Plenary Assembly of the bishops which also marked the beginning of preparations.
Actually, the preparations are going on well and we are almost ready. We are in collaboration with AMECEA Secretariat who gave us the directives on what we should prepare for the success of the plenary. The Bishop chair of AMECEA, Bishop Charles Kasonde of Solwezi, Zambia, has already invited all the bishops in the region to convene in Dar-es-Salaam from 9th July as the opening Mass will be on 10th July 2022.
AMECEA Online: This coming plenary will focus on care of environment under the theme: Environmental impact integral human development. How are Christians being involved in the preparations to understand this theme?
Fr. Kitima: Last year, the Conference launched a project dabbed as “Greening Tanzania.” This project is concerned with conservation, protection and restoration of degraded environment. So, we have started campaigns on care of environment and we have engaged experts to educate the people on what they can do in terms of restoration of ecosystem. Christians and in fact each family has been encouraged to plant at least 10-20 trees. Right now we are in collaboration with Tanzania bishops to give directives on how to assist families who cannot afford to buy tree seedlings.
We are aware that environment is not only water sources or having trees but the earth also needs oxygen which is automatically generated by trees and this is how we can combat emission of carbon-dioxide. We have therefore come up with activities which can be carried out from grassroots by our Christians. Generally it’s a matter of forming the conscious of the people to act by moral obligation rather than waiting for the government to instruct on what is to be done.
In relation to this, we are currently educating families and creating awareness knowing that after the people have received knowledge, it will help them identify various tree species needed for different places. Additionally, Christians are being educated on various conservation measures including how people in the rural areas can prune trees and not cut so they can get firewood for their use and retain the tree for shade and for good environment.
AMECEA Online: How has the Conference involved other actors including the government and other religions and denominations in this upcoming Plenary?
Fr. Kitima: Actually, we have informed the Tanzania government about the bishops’ plenary and they have welcomed the idea. The president has shown support in writing, promising her her participation in one way or the other.
Concerning other religions, yes, we have informed the interfaith standing committee who deal with socio-economic issues. Some of the members will participate particularly in the opening of the plenary and during the closing when the bishops will be giving resolutions on what is to be done.
Besides, we have a very good council for Muslims and for other churches who are working closely with the Catholic Church towards the realization of this theme hence other actors are not left behind.
AMECEA Online: Do you have any other information concerning this preparation for the Bishops 20th Plenary Assembly
Fr. Kitima: As we prepare for this Plenary, the theme is so relevant and key to our needs in Tanzania. There is a lot of land mismanagement and in fact 67% of Tanzanians depend on land for Agriculture, for daily income and for basic our needs. So there is need for proper management of land for the good of future generation.
