Clerics to leaders: Beware of praise that is over the top

Clergymen on Sunday, December 25, advised the country’s top leadership to be wary of appointees who praised them excessively, saying the tendency was aimed at hiding the subordinates’ evils.

They also challenged government officials to assess themselves to establish whether they were fit to continue holding their posts.

This was a key message delivered in Christmas sermons as Christians in Tanzania joined their fellow believers worldwide in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago.

Other highlighted issues included the need for Tanzanians to prepare to work hard in 2023, especially in agriculture by making good use of the current rains.

Others are stepping up climate change mitigation measures to protect humanity; maintaining peace, love and forgiveness, as well as improving parenting.

Bishop Augustine Shao of the Zanzibar Diocese said top government leaders should be wary of appointees who overpraised them.

“We are cautioning the country’s top leaders to be careful with such appointees. Most of them have been praising presidents whenever they go. They are using this method to hide their evil deeds...our leaders shouldn’t accept this,” said Bishop Shao in his sermon.

The Bishop of the Anglican Central Tanganyika Diocese, Dr Dickson Chilongani, said government officials should conduct self-assessment to establish whether they are fit to hold their positions.

Dr Chilongani, who doubles as the Anglican assistant Bishop in the country, said the self-assessment should also aim at establishing whether the officials readily deliver justice for citizens.

“The assessment should enable them change their direction because corruption still exists, and its incidence is on the rise. Justice is perverted and violence is widespread,” he said.

Relating his message with the birth of Jesus Christ, Dr Chilongani said President Samia Suluhu Hassan has good intentions, noting, however, that there were people who were like King Herod in that they were only interested in safeguarding their interests instead of serving the people.

He questioned the government’s silence over incidents of injustice that sometimes lead to the death of people in various parts of the country.

He cited the recent incident that was reported in Mwitikila Village, Bahi District, where a villager was killed, several others were injured and property destroyed in a dispute caused by village leaders.

During the incident, the Bishop said, a member of a church choir was badly beaten, while a woman was stripped in public after she was accused of being involved in witchcraft.

“The said woman was later beaten to death, but leaders remained silent, prompting villagers to take the law into their hands,” Dr Chilongani said.

“After recovering the woman’s body, villagers burned a car, shop and house belonging to the leader who was said to be behind the incident.”

In her Christmas and New Year message, President Hassan reiterated the need for Tanzanians to embrace peace and love.

“We should celebrate in peace, love and moderation. In 2023, we should continue to work hard with professionalism in order to enable the nation to take further steps ahead,” she said on Twitter.

For his part, Vice President Philip Mpango asked Tanzanians to protect children, saying they were special gifts from God.

“Child abuse must come to an end,” he said, and also urged Tanzanians to make good use of the current rains.

“We should also use the prevailing rains to actively engage in crop farming that will enable us to get enough harvests,” Dr Mpango said during Christmas Mass at the Christ the King Parish in Dodoma.

“Every family should also plant three trees – two fruit trees and one tree that will provide shade in order to roll back deforestation,” he added.

Climate change

Speaking about the recent government decision announced against people implicated in water diversion along the Great Ruaha River, Bishop Shao said more accountability measures should be taken.

He said those implicated were supposed to value humanity and protect the interests of the public instead of promoting injustice.

“Selfishness and desire for wealth have subjected citizens to troubled lives. True peace will be realised when justice is extended to all,” said Bishop Shao.

Peace and love

On Christmas Eve, Shinyanga Diocese Catholic Bishop Liberatus Sangu called on Tanzanians to promote peace and love in order to curb crimes that include killings and gender-based violence.

“The lack of fear of God has been the main cause of the erosion of peace. That is why killings are on the increase. We should use our beliefs to turn to God,” he said.

Forgiveness

Preaching during Christmas Mass, the Anglican Priest at Saint Alban’s Church, Jacob Kahemele, said the festival should remind Tanzanians of the importance of forgiveness and pray for love among members of the community, church, nation and families.

“The love of God is behind the birth of Jesus Christ. We are therefore called upon to love each other and, most importantly, God,” he said.

Parenting and values

The Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) vice chairman, Bishop Stanley Hotay, said the government and society in general are challenged to ensure morals and ethics are promoted despite foreign pressure and globalisation.

Preaching during the national Christmas Mass that was broadcast live from Arusha, Bishop Hotay, who was representing the council’s chairman, Dr Fredrick Shoo, who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), said the country is passing through several challenges of ethical deterioration.

“The problems include youths’ involvement in illicit drugs such as marijuana, homosexuality, and several other immoral behaviours,” he said.

He said the birth of Jesus Christ should remind the country of the importance of protecting children, especially male children who are now facing higher vulnerability as compared to any time in the country’s history.

“Drug abuse and GBV are the key factors threatening the well-being of children in Tanzania. Bold measures should be designed and executed to safeguard the children for the better future generation,” he said.

Preaching during the Christmas Mass, Dr Shoo expressed his disappointment on the youth growing consumption of spirits which is injurious to their health.

Speaking in Moshi, consumption of alcohol at over 40 percent, especially to the youth with underage children, wasn’t modern life.

“This is not the good lifestyle. The consumption of the spirits is dangerous to their health. Those with 25 years will reach 50 years with important body organs seriously affected,” he said.

During the event, Arusha regional commissioner (RC) John Mongella said imparting good ethics and morals to the future generation was among the priorities of President Hassan’s administration.

He said the government was committed to ensuring that children are raised ethically.

“I encourage the church community to actively participate in this important process of better raising the future generations by ensuring that they acquire good behaviour’,” said the RC.

Delivering the message of the Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ibrahim Nnko said protecting peace should be a matter of significance.

“Christmas is a time we share the message of peace. It is the responsibility of everyone, from individual citizens to the government. We should all preserve peace in the country,” he said.

Pastor Nnko said governing officials should lead with wisdom and vigour, and refrain from making sneering political statements that can incite violence and lead to peace destruction.

Reported by Josephine Christopher (Dar es Salaam), Jesse Mikofu (Zanzibar), Habel Chidawali (Dom), Florah Temba (Moshi) and Suzy Butondo (Shinyanga)