Tanzania now to crack down on exploitative pastorpreneurs
Vice President Dr Philip Mpango
What you need to know:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Office of the Registrar of Societies has been tasked with finding a lasting solution to pastorpreneurs who tend to exploit their followers
Arusha. Days could now be numbered for pastorpreneurs - masquerading as genuine religious leaders - who disregard legal and scriptural principles, the government has announced.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Office of the Registrar of Societies has been tasked with finding a lasting solution to pastorpreneurs who tend to exploit their followers for personal gain while promoting inappropriate teachings.
Speaking here on Saturday, the Vice President Dr Philip Mpango called on the Home Affairs, through the Office of the Registrar of Societies, to enforce the Societies Registration Act and its regulations rigorously to ensure that registered organizations adhere to their registration objectives and requirements.
Dr Mpango also urged religious leaders to join the government in condemning harmful teachings and actions within the community that violate national laws, including those by some religious leaders themselves.
His remarks come following recent actions by the government to close down the Christian Life Church and expel its leader, Pastor Domique Kashoix Dibwe, commonly known by his hapless followers as 'Kiboko ya Wachawi', a Congolese national.
The church has been accused of spreading alarmist teachings, promoting practices contrary to Tanzanian ethics, customs, and the Societies Act’s provisions, and inciting violence against individuals suspected of witchcraft.
The closure of the church and expulsion of its leader followed a series of reports by The Citizen’s sister paper, Mwananchi, revealing that some church leaders were exploiting their congregants financially while amassing substantial wealth.
Despite the church’s closure, 'Kiboko ya Wachawi' continued to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), soliciting money from followers for prayers.
Speaking in Arusha during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the New Life Outreach Church, Dr Mpango highlighted the rise of religious leaders who mislead their followers into relying on miracles for success instead of hard work.
“It has been observed that recently, there has been an increase in preachers amassing personal wealth through donations and sales of various items, with many of the victims being citizens struggling with various life challenges,” Dr Mpango said in a statement to the press.
In parallel, Minister of Home Affairs Hamad Masauni, speaking at the closing ceremony of the Seventh-day Adventist camps in Arusha, urged all religious practitioners to adhere to national laws.
“Recently, we expelled a pastor from the country for violating registration laws, and you’ve seen him spreading videos admitting that his actions were contrary to religious teachings,” Masauni stated.
He emphasized the need for religious activities to align with legal standards, stating that while freedom of worship is constitutionally protected, it must not breach national laws.
Dr Mpango also criticized the misuse of social media by youth, noting that many believe they must emulate trends seen online, including those that clash with cultural and traditional values.
“The lack of fear of God in society is contributing to a rise in violent crimes, sexual and gender-based violence, and other social issues such as single-parent families and land disputes,” Dr Mpango remarked.
Masauni echoed Dr Mpango’s concerns about moral decay, noting an increase in violent crimes associated with superstitious beliefs.
“In the past three months, there has been a surge in brutal killings linked to superstitions, as well as other violent crimes such as rape and assaults using traditional weapons. Security agencies face significant challenges in controlling these issues, which are driven by a breakdown in moral values,” Masauni added.
Meanwhile, founder of the New Life Outreach Church Tanzania, Dr Egon Falk, expressed gratitude to the government for allowing the church to preach for 50 years.
He affirmed the church’s commitment to following national laws and regulations in its religious and social services.
