In a Mass dedicated to the victims and their families of recent violence, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Rwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam stresses how the bloodshed “does not reflect the true face of Tanzania.”
By Angella Rwezaula and Kielce Gussie
The aftermath of the general election in Tanzania at the end of October led to protests, as the results have been dubbed irregular by protesters. Though the number is not official, some argue that hundreds have been killed in the violence.
The Catholic Church—both locally and abroad—continues to pray for the victims, injured, and their families.
After an invitation to prayer by the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Rwa’ichi celebrated Mass on 9 November in honor of the victims.
Not a reflection of true Tanzania
At the beginning of the Mass, the Archbishop stressed that “our nation has been wounded, and our nation has lost its dignity” as a result of the events after the election. He highlighted that beyond losing its dignity, the country has lost people who were killed “indiscriminately.”
However, Archbishop Rwa’ichi emphasized that the punishment for protesting is not being shot. Some have even been killed in their homes.
This, he argued, “does not reflect the true face of Tanzania even a little bit. It has no explanation. It is an abomination before God.”
Mourners gather at the family home of a victim of the election violence (AFP or licensors)
Reflecting on the readings of the day, the Archbishop highlighted two points: justice and wisdom. “Tanzania has lost its vision of justice,” he said.
In addition to talks of peace, Archbishop Rwa’ichi pushed for a need to speak of justice, as “it is the foundation of peace.” Moreover, wisdom is important, and he asked those present to reflect on whether they possessed wisdom.
A new beginning
At the same time, a diocesan Mass was held at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Mwanjelwa, Mbeya, presided over by Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga.
He challenged the injured and their families to forgive and begin again—“not as cowards, but as brave people who are ready to rebuild what has been destroyed for the benefit of those present and future generations.”
There were six main reasons behind the Mass: to pray for the souls of those who died in the election-related violence, to pray for the injured, to ask God to help to find the missing (alive or dead), to comfort those who lost their property, to urge the nation to reflect on its state, and to pray for healing and reconciliation from God.
To this end, Archbishop Nyaisonga called on those in authority to be humble. “Humility is not weakness, but the strength of a person who recognizes that no one can take a position that only the Almighty deserves,” he stressed.
Catholics gather for prayers during a special mass organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam to pray for victims of post-election violence following Tanzania’s general elections (AFP or licensors)
The Archbishop also encouraged all the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mbeya to be united in prayer intentions of the Mass.
“May the bereaved be comforted, although their sorrow is great, may our injured be healed, may those missing be found, no matter the circumstances, and may those who lost their property have courage, for as long as they have life, there is still hope.”
