Catholic church leaders in Tanzania continued to urge for peace, respect and tolerance, as the nation prepares to vote in national elections on October 28.
The country is one of the few in Africa that did not shut down as part of coronavirus pandemic protocols. While places of worship remained open, including Catholic churches, elections campaigns had also continued across the country.
Archbishop Gervais Nyaisonga, the Tanzania Episcopal Conference President in a recent video message said the country’s peace was an open gift that the people must protect by all means. The Archbishop said the people wanted to see peace during the period and the elections completed in openness, justice, integrity and dedication.
His counterpart in Zanzibar, Bishop Augustine Shao struck a similar chord. He said the church wanted the people and politicians to focus on building the nation in the campaigns since there will be life after the elections. The bishop had also warned about bribing the voter, while warning that corruption was a “threat to peace”.
Bribery of voters by the candidates deny the people their right to choose, according to the Tanzania church leaders. With some violence emerging during the campaigns, religious leaders have feared possible disruption to peace before, during and after the elections.
In the polls, the citizens will be voting to elect a president, legislators and civic leaders. The elections have attracted 15 presidential candidates, with the incumbent President, John Pombe Magufuli of the ruling party –Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and opposition leader Tundu Lissu of Part of Democracy and Progress (Chameda) being the front runners.
The 60 years old Magufuli lifted a four-year government ban on political rallies in August. He has since campaigned on job creation and revival of tourism. Despite the global Covid-19 crisis, Magufuli has declared the pandemic over in Tanzania, with only 509 cases, due to prayers by religious leaders.
He had turned Covid-19 into a campaign tool, saying the country was okay since children were going to school and coming back, and all meetings were going on – including sports meetings and popular musical events.
Lissu, 51, has promised to reduce taxes and give subsidies to farmers.
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