Groom responsible citizens, Mpango tell faith leaders
VICE-PRESIDENT Philip Mpango has called upon religious and cultural leaders as well as elders to take a leading role in ethical upbringing of children and youths, especially by imparting them with moral values to ensure the future of the nation and its people is bestowed in safe hands.
The VP made the call yesterday when representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening of a national symposium on ethics, which was organised by religious leaders through their committees on peace and reconciliation.
“If the young population is well steered on our traditions and customs in addition to adhering to religious teachings, they will eventually become God-fearing and this will eradicate many vices being committed in the country,” he told the religious leaders at the event, which was held at the Julius Nyerere Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam.
Dr Mpango said the government recognises and appreciates the role of all religious leaders in imparting upstanding morals to the Tanzanian society, and asked them to continue praying for the country and its leaders to be able to effectively implement development projects for the majority of the people.
The VP as well took issues with increasing cases of violence meted on children, both girls and boys, and directed state organs to intensify the fight against the immoral acts in the society.
“Let me take this opportunity to also urge parents and guardians to put in place proper mechanism for protection of their children at all levels, starting from the family, schools and tertiary institutions in order to protect rights and welfare of children against violence acts meted on them,” he urged.
Dr Mpango also used the occasion to remind religious leaders to speak against corruption, graft and economic sabotage in their houses of worship by educating their followers on negative impact of the evil acts.
“The government will continue to improve systems for delivery of social services in order to get rid of corruption and graft. We will not hesitate to take stern legal actions against anyone, who will be implicated regardless of his/her position or status in the society,” he warned.
The VP too urged parents and guardians to actively take part in the fight against drug abuse by creating public awareness on the dangers of narcotics abuse.
“Parents and guardians should report and disclose all people involved in the illicit trade of narcotics which have negative impact on the health of young population in our country,” he observed.
On the other hand, Dr Mpango cautioned religious leaders to desist from fermenting conflicts within their institutions, adding that misunderstandings paint unpleasant image of religious establishments.
The VP attributed the conflicts within some religious establishments to lust for power and financial resources as well as egoism, abuse of office and violation of constitutions of their institutions.
“I call upon such religious leaders to reconcile and address the misunderstandings between themselves in accordance to appropriate laws and guidelines. This will paint a positive image and act as an exemple of moral upstanding for the Tanzanian society,” he urged.
At the same occasion, the Minister for Home Affairs, Eng Hamad Masauni, said the ministry has established a system for registration and supervision of community organisations.
“The system aims at addressing challenges which were being experienced in the past such as delays in registration of the organisations and lack of requisite information on the registration exercise,” he explained.
The Minister expressed optimism that the system will also enhance security in the country, since it will help the government to deal with organisations which operate on pretext of religion to conduct activities which are against the laws of Tanzania.
The Chairman of the Religious Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, Sheikh Alhad Mussa Salum, who is also Regional Sheikh of Dar es Salaam, said the committee will continue to cooperate with the government in addressing moral decay in the society.
Sheik Salum stressed that every nation hinges on moral uprightness and humanity through which religious leaders have an important role to play in imparting ethical values to their followers.
The Secretary of the committee, Reverend Dr Israel Maasa, said the committee has played a crucial role in addressing some challenges facing the nation such as conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers as well as fighting outdated customs and violence against women and children.
