As Tanzania celebrates the Workers’ Day, Father Charles Kitima is brutally beaten and injured. The Police report says that this atrocity was committed by an ‘unknown’ people.
By Paulino Madeje *
On the night of April 30, 2025, at his residence in Kurasini, Dar es Salaam, the Tanzania’s Episcopal Conference Secretary General, Father Charles Kitima, was attacked and injured by unknown people. According to the Dar es Salaam Special Zones Police Commander, he was assaulted by unknown people while he was at the Council’s headquarters.
The Commander, Mr. Jumanne Muliro, said that the priest, had a time of sharing with some of his colleagues. When he went to the water closet, he was intercepted by some unknown assailants was who beat and seriously injured him. Mr. Murilo added that that the police force is carrying out an investigation to disclose the subject in charge, and one person associated with the incident has already been arrested. Father Kitima, who a few days ago was in Iringa to witness the consecration and enthronement of bishop Romanus Mihali of the Catholic Diocese of Iringa, is currently admitted to the Agha Khan Hospital, where he is receiving some medical treatment.
The incident has raised strong feelings and condemnations from various people including peace activists, who have condemned the act and called it a crime against peace. On his X account, formerly known as Twitter, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society, Mr. Bonifas Mwabukusi said: “I am deeply shocked by the reports of the attack on Father Charles Kitima. This is a war of Darkness against Light. It is a war of evil against good, a war of injustice against justice”.
And activist Fatma Karume, the daughter of former Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume, on the her X account, questioned and said: “Kitima was critical during Magufuli’s time. He never remained silent when he saw EVIL. During Magufuli’s era time, no one touched him. The question is: do you think the priests will remain silent now because you are intimidating them? Today is a sad day for Tanzania”.
The Tanzanian Episcopal Conference, in her official communication to the public, demonstrated that she was saddened and shocked to learn on Father Kitima’s incident, and called on the relevant authorities (Police Force and other security agencies) to take immediate steps to identify and arrest all those involved in planning and carrying out this brutal crime and bring them to justice. “The investigation of this incident should be carried out quickly and the information provided transparently and without any distortion in order to restore faith and hope to our people”, the report said.
The statement concluded by pleading people of good will to pray for the General Secretary’s speedy recovery, and also for people to be patient while the investigation continues.
The Revolutionary Party (CCM), which is the ruling party in Tanzania, through her Secretary General, Mr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, condemned the incident, calling the act as something regrettable.
Similarly, CHADEMA and ACT Wazalendo opposition parties strongly condemned the brutal attack on Fr Charles Kitima.
* Fr. Paulino Madeje, IMC, Coordinator of Communication for Africa.