Few months before the General Election, the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) through Justice and Peace Commission and Catholic Professionals of Tanzania (CPT) have evaluated the situation in the country and plan to issue a formal statement.
The evaluation was done recently during their conference held in Mbagala Spiritual Center Dar es Salaam with delegates from different dioceses in the country.
After seeing what was going on in the country the delegates analyzed a number of things including new constitution making process and election of Local Government which was marred by so many challenges.
Speaking at the conference, the Bishop of Bunda Diocese, Rt Rev Renatus Nkwande said, "It is the duty of the Church to enhance peace in the country, we must show the proper direction our country should take.”
“There are some indicators of infringement of Peace, like terrorism which is now growing in the country, so we have a duty to inform our people about the real situation to enable them make a right a decision,” he said.
The delegates, also in their evaluation, noted the misusing of force/power by state organs as witnessed in some places during the past elections which make people to live in fear.
The Secretary for the Justice and Peace Commission, Rev Fr Vic Missiaen said, the Church should not only end up praying for peace, we have also to give light to the community to make them understand the reality before they make decisions.”
He said that it is the duty of the Church to educate people especially young people who need to change, make the right decisions towards for the benefits of the country.
By Pascal Mwanache, Kiongozi Newspaper, TEC