Heading towards the General Elections in Tanzania, on October 25 this year, the Catholic Church and other Christian churches in Tanzania have issued a strong message condemning some of the violations of peace being committed by the ruling party against the opposition. Their slogan has been ‘peace is constructed by all’.
By Paulino Madeje *
“Our responsibility as citizens is to protect the peace of our country, because peace construction is a very difficult endeavor. And if we lose it, we will not find it”. These are the words of the President of the Tanzanian Catholic Episcopal Conference (TEC), His Excellency Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, who is also the bishop of the Diocese of Lindi, during his Easter message to Christians and the entire nation in general.
Stop arresting people
Addressing his flock, bishop Pisa questioned: “Under normal circumstances, who destroys peace? The one who uses force and insists that the elections go the way he wants, or the one who says, ‘come on, let’s go back to the table, so that we can look at our electoral systems, because the current system cannot provide us with just and true leaders’”? He explained that if peace is truly achieved by going back to the table, then all those arrested for demanding justice, including all leaders of political parties, should be released immediately and unconditionally. And others should not be arrested or harassed. He added that the national pillars (especially Parliament and the Judiciary) should not be interfered with, but should do their jobs fairly.
Democracy and dictators
Speaking about democratic systems, the Capuchin bishop clearly explained that many dictators in the world, and even in Africa, will not allow elections to be held, as they will be afraid that if the elections are held based on fair and transparent systems, they will not be elected. And if they do allow elections, they must manipulate the electoral systems in order to remain in power. And it should be remembered that if people do not vote freely, Democracy will die. He stressed that Tanzania has not reached that point. The TEC President stressed that in a true Democracy, “Citizens should not be deprived of their power to vote and choose”, he said, and added that leaders will be accountable to voters, because they are the ones who elected them. He warned that “the defects that have emerged should be corrected as soon as possible. And with a sincere intention from the parties involved, there is enough time (for making electoral reforms as the opposition party CHADEMA has proposed) to make these reforms.
Four recommendations
Bishop Wolfgang called on leaders to consider the following:
One: pray for peace in Tanzania, so that there will be just and patriotic leaders.
Two: the voices and cries of the people should be heard.
Three: the actors should sit with all electoral stakeholders to implement the necessary changes before the general election.
Four: everyone should fear God and listen to their conscience, that is, the voice of God speaking within us. The President concluded by wishing Christians and all people of good will a happy Easter of joy and peace.
And Jacob Mameo Ole Paulo, the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania Diocese of Morogoro, during the Good Friday Service, made it clear that the ‘No Reform, No Elections’ policy is not just a matter for CHADEMA, but for every Tanzanian who loves justice and peace, and there are even some CCM leaders who want it to be so, but are afraid to express this position. He added that arresting and imprisoning people does not silence their grievances. “Africans do not know how to be criticized. If you are criticized, you just grab a sword. Why grabbing a sword? We do not consider that whenever we are criticized, our weaknesses are shown so that we can improve. Tanzania has been at the forefront of fighting for justice and democracy and the liberation of other nations in Africa and the world, now why are we failing to do the same here?” he questioned.
In further actions taken to enhance the implementation of their petitions, they decided to take the ‘No Reform, No Elections’. However, the government has not agreed with this policy, and has gone so far as to consider all those who spread this propaganda as peace agitators. On April 9 this year, the leader of the main opposition party in Tanzania, Honorable Tundu Antipas Lissu, was arrested by the Tanzanian police force while addressing his followers in Mbinga district, Ruvuma region, southern Tanzania.
In context
There have been complaints from the opposition party about the violation of human rights and democracy by the ruling party, namely Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the Revolutionary Party. CHADEMA (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), Democracy and Development Party, has been demanding for a change in the election policy so that the electoral committee be an independent commission, because for many years this committee has been appointed by the ruling party.
And while he was in custody, a procedure was adopted that the leaders of various parties in the country, interested in participating in the General Elections on 25 October this year, should sign the Electoral Code of Conduct. CHADEMA refused to do so, leading to its disqualification from participating in the General Elections.
As a result, various religious leaders and other non-governmental organizations have called on both sides to sit at the negotiating table in order to find a solution to the crisis.
* Fr. Paulino Madeje, IMC, Coordinator of Communication for Africa.