Speaking at the commemoration to mark 50 years anniversary of the Dar es Salaam Diocese of the Anglican Church in Tanzania, Bishop Valentino Mokiwa urged Tanzanians to respect and follow election rules and regulations.
He told journalists yesterday that members of the church and the public as well should be ambassadors of peace and they should convey this message to all, so that nothing unbecoming should happen at the polls.
He said that the church will not support those who plan to violate the forthcoming General Elections and the congregation must pray to ensure that every election procedures carried out as planned.
He said Tanzania was one of the blessed countries which has never experienced violence during the general elections and all presidential aspirants must send messages of peace to the public.
“In these 50 years of Dar es Salaam Diocese of the Anglican Church, we urge you to respect all election rules and regulations as many countries are watching us so we should not spoil the elections with shameful things,” he said.
Retired bishop Dr Basil Sambano asked the church to send a message of peace to people regardless of their ideologies and should avoid discrimination.
“The general public and religious leaders are supposed to help convey the message of peace to the citizens so that Tanzania will continue to be a peaceful country especially during the general election expected to take place in October this year,” he said.
He said that he has never seen such a large number of presidential aspirants in any of the past general elections like this year’s.
“This shows that Tanzanians have now started to realise the need to participate in election because they now understand their rights.
“I believe the person who will be chosen to contest for the presidential post from Chama Cha Mapinduzi will be a person who will respect needs of Tanzanians and fulfill all the promises he will make during the campaign,” he said.
He said when missionaries established the Anglican Church in Tanzania, there were only two Christian denominations in the country, but now the country has many churches and in Dar es Salaam alone there are more than 50 churches.
Ambassador Paul Rupia said the celebrations to mark 50 years anniversary started with peaceful march from Buguruni Malapa to Saint Alban Anglican Church at the city centre, the place where the commemoration will take place on July 5 this year.
According to the organisers, the event is expected to be attended by 2,000 people from different religions as well as from different countries such as USA, Canada and UK.
SOURCE:
GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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