By DAILY NEWS Reporters, 24th April 2011 @ 20:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 2534
RELIGIOUS leaders in the country on Sunday celebrated Easter Sunday, issuing ringing calls for peace, tolerance, national unity and respect of the law and order.
Police in most parts of the country said the holidays are so far peaceful, save for isolated incidents including road accidents.
Christians worldwide on Easter Sunday recall Jesus' resurrection, a sign of eternal life, following his crucifixion over 2,000 years ago.
Tanzanian clerics railed at greedy politicians engaged in divisive propaganda mostly on religious lines, saying such missions have resulted in instability and violence in Africa and other parts of the world.
"We should maintain peace and tranquility that we are now enjoying, we must be the source of harmony. We should also not remain quiet when others are evoking upheavals.
"We must be very careful of provocative words that are meant to divide us," the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, Dr Valentino Mokiwa, said during Easter mass celebrated at St Albans Cathedral in Dar es Salaam.
Archbishop Mokiwa criticised clerics who devote most of their sermons on biased politics and in favour of some politicians or parties, warning that such moves were dangerous.
"Clerics should preach peace, harmony, friendship, respect and love ... because when, we as priests, fail to lead our followers, the country will experience hostilities and conflict," he stressed.
Dr Mokiwa noted that religious denominations should not compete but co-operate in cultivating a friendly and peaceful society.
He said the nation was currently facing many challenges, therefore wasting a lot of time jockeying for political power would not solve people's problems.
He cited the challenges as power rationing, poor health services and rising prices which politicians should resolve as soon as possible rather than advancing personal agenda.
Dr Mokiwa expressed concern over failure to observe the rule of law including libellous accusations in the media and ever rising cases of killings through mob justice.
"How can you accuse someone that she/he is corrupt while it has not been proved so in a court of law. We must respect these authorities and leave them to execute their responsibility," he said.
Dr Mokiwa said he had no objection for people to travel to Loliondo to take "magical cure" from retired Pastor Ambilikile Mwaisapile (Babu), stressing that those who were sick and believe they could get relief should go there.
"We have poor and inadequate medical system in the country that is why the God has empowered Pastor Mwaisapile to serve his people who are dying of chronic diseases. I encourage you all to rush to Loliondo and get cured," he added.
Fr Allan Kijumbe of the St Alban Church said it was high time for couples to avoid habits that can lead to disintegration of families.
Fr Kijumbe said on Easter eve that it was normal today to see husbands fighting with their wives, warning that it was unfair for men to turn wives into punching bags.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Dar es Saalaam Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Bishop Euzebius Nzigilwa has called on families to maintain love and reconciliations in line with Jesus teachings.
He reminded Christians and the entire community to stop being agents of Satan who always want to see people plunging into misery.
Bishop Nzigilwa said the world was now dominated by politicians who mostly end up cheating followers and that clean politicians should emulate Jesus who maintained truth and led his followers in the right direction.
In Zanzibar, religious leaders raised concern over the four-month performance of the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) and the soaring prices of commodities.
Bishop Augustine Shao of Roman Catholic Church said that people expected a lot from the GNU.
People expected some serious changes in the government including having innovative and committed leaders. Leaders in the government who had not performed deserved to be dropped, he appealed.
Fr Michael Hafidh of the Anglican Church on Zanzibar asked the Government to tackle soaring prices.
"The government can control prices of petrol that have pushed up costs of living in the islands. It is sad that the government has not taken serious steps to control prices of commodities," Hafidhi said.
Bishop Obeid Fabian of the Pentecostal Church in Zanzibar emphasized peace and love to all, saying such things are great gifts left by Jesus to all people.
He, however, blasted immoral persons including corrupt individuals and drug dealers who are bent to destroy the youth.
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