Clerics: Govt order undemocratic.

  Only High Court has authority to deregister religious organisations - Political analyst.

Home Affairs minister Mathias Chikawe.

Religious leaders have expressed grave concern and described the government’s order for religious institutions to stay away from politics or have their registration revoked as undemocratic.

 

On Tuesday, Home Affairs minister Mathias Chikawe threatened to deregister religious institutions whose leaders engage in politics.

 

“We’re planning to start enforcing the initiative as early as the 20th of this month at which point all institutions operating contrary to the law will lose their registration,” the minister warned.

 

The warning has however stirred controversy among the target group with clerics turning the table around and warning the government that such public statements may result in public unrest.Referring to the Home Affairs Minister Archbishop for the Anglican Church of Tanzania Dr Jacob Chimeledya yesterday told The Guardian that; “He (the minister) might think it’s the right move, however, the same statement might lead to social and political commotions.” 

 

The leader highlighted the fact that the Constitution confers a number of fundamental human rights like political freedom to all Wananchi including the clergy.  

 

“When religious leaders express their political interests, they should be considered as normal wananchi,” he said.

 

On his part, the Tanzania Assemblies of God Northern and Central Zone Bishop Christopher Madilu said the minister’s statement was not clearly stated and will take time to be understood and that the church and other leaders await another official statement from the government.

 

Rev Zacharia Samson of the Anglican Church in Chato-Geita said religious leaders are principal advocates for peace and security across the country and as such, the government needs not to bother the churches because they work to ensure peace and security prevails.  “He should be cautious when speaking of religious matters,” he stressed.

 

Political analyst Prof Willy Makundi shared the concerns of the religious leaders saying the minister’s statement took him by surprise.

 

Prof Makundi said the only authority with power to deregister civil societies and religious institutions ns is the high court and not the government.

 

“The minister was supposed to file a case at the High Court over some alleged misconducts but not threaten to deregister religious institutions,” he said.

 

The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has called on the minister to withdraw his statement saying it violates the human right to information and expression.

 

The LHRC statement to the media warned that Chikawe’s statement will limit public participation of the referendum for the new Constitution and called upon the government to respect every citizen’s right to expression so as to enable citizenry get more awareness on the constitution.

 

A representative from civil society organisations Nicodemas Lutta also backed the religious leaders saying the ministry’s statement infringes the people’s right to take part in matters of national interest.

 

“It’s quite challenging to separate politics from religion,” he said. 

 

According to the representative, there is need to question legitimacy of the government asking religious leaders to advocate for peace and security in the country but not to participate in politics.

 

“Tanzania is a democratic state and one of the pillars of democracy is to allow other people’s views in anything of national interest,” said Fred Michael, a concerned Arusha resident.

 

“The minister’s remarks could spark chaos in the country especially at this time when we are preparing for the General Election. This may cause of chaos in the country, how can the government deregister a religious organisation,” questioned another concerned resident who preferred anonymity.

 

 “This is unacceptable to the country like Tanzania, which boasts itself as a democratic state; what they are planning to do is undemocratic,” said Edward Porokwa the executive director of the Pastoralists Indigenous Non-Govermental Organisations Forum (Pingo's Forum).

 

 “It is very difficult to draw a line of separation between religion and politics…every human being is political in nature, so whatever we do there is politics in it,” observed the Director of the Grassroot Youth Development Organisation (GYDO), Henry Cigwasi.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN