Religious voices call for unity beyond differences in Tanzania

GEITA: IN a world increasingly characterised by division and discord, Tanzania stands at a critical crossroads, shaped by its rich diversity of ethnicities, religions and regions.

Rather than allowing these differences to fuel fragmentation, the nation has an opportunity to transform them into a source of strength, cohesion, unity and resilience.

Speaking recently in a telephone interview with the ‘Daily News’, the chairperson of the Tanzania Community for Reconciliation and Peace (JMAT), Sheikh Alhadi Mussa Salumu, said religious institutions carry a major responsibility to serve as forces that unite Tanzanians.

He noted that despite differences in faith and denomination, all religious institutions share fundamental values centred on human dignity, humanity and respect for human rights.

“At the core, religious institutions agree on the value of humanity and human rights. A human being is a human being, even if they differ from you in faith. Such a person has the right to life, to protection, respect, inclusion and to be heard,” said Sheikh Salumu.

He added that religious institutions have a duty to unite Tanzanians and all citizens in key sectors such as the economy, education and health, areas that must never be subject to discrimination.

“You cannot say you will provide education only to people of your faith, or healthcare only to members of your denomination, or conduct business only with people from your own group. Trade, education and services must involve people of different beliefs,” he said.

Sheikh Salumu said religious institutions should never promote discrimination of any kind, but should instead prioritise broader national interests, including strengthening national unity and fostering harmony between religious leaders and their followers.

He further spoke of the importance of religious groups continuing to respect one another’s beliefs and maintaining platforms that bring them together, while guiding followers to understand that diversity does not hinder cooperation in social and community development.

To ensure that peace, unity and solidarity are sustained for future generations, Sheikh Salumu called for continued education and sensitisation on interfaith and interdenominational relations, as well as the rejection of misconceptions that portray cooperation among people of different beliefs as sinful, disloyal or wrong.

“The key issue is knowledge. All religions teach us how to live together and build relationships. This is why religious leaders from different faiths have reached a level of cooperation. We may differ in doctrine, but issues of unity bring us together,” he said.

On the other hand, the chairperson of the University Students Christian Fellowship (USCF) at the University of Dar es Salaam, Ebenezer Materu, said there is a high level of mutual respect among followers of different religions and denominations in Tanzania, with each group observing the boundaries of others.

He said peaceful coexistence and unity are deeply rooted in Tanzanian culture, guided by the foundations laid by the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who strongly opposed tribalism, religious discrimination and regionalism.

“Mwalimu Nyerere demonstrated that people can live together without religious or ethnic conflict. This culture has been passed down from generation to generation, and no group is likely to emerge to divide Tanzanians along those lines,” said Mr Materu.

Referring to countries that have experienced political and social unrest driven by religious and ethnic divisions, he said such challenges often began when societies abandoned the values and principles established by their national founders.

He added that divisions within nations frequently arise from a lack of understanding of shared identity, history and collective purpose.

Mr Materu said religion remains an important unifying force for many people, and religious institutions therefore have a responsibility to promote unity, love, mutual respect and social cohesion, while helping individuals understand the true meaning of life and coexistence.

He further observed that it is no longer sufficient to simply state that Tanzania enjoys peace and unity. Instead, there is a need to identify potential challenges that could threaten peace in the future and develop long-term strategies to address them.

“This is the right time to identify early warning signs and address potential causes of instability in advance, so as to create an environment in which no one has reason to undermine the peace of our nation,” he said.

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Jabir Manyama, a resident of Salasala in Dar es Salaam, said Tanzania’s progress since independence is rooted in peace and stability founded on the principles laid down by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. He said the country’s strength lies in the diversity of its people in terms of ethnicity, culture and religion, noting that these differences have helped build a society based on tolerance, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.

“In Tanzania, when you look at us, we are one people. We share the same skin colour, and although we have different ethnic groups, a Kurya lives and jokes with a Haya, we intermarry and become one. That is how it should be,” said Mr Manyama.

He added that Tanzanians should not allow themselves to be divided along religious lines, stressing that faith is a personal matter between an individual and God. Mr Manyama said religion is sacred and rooted in belief and morality, cautioning against its misuse for political purposes or actions that undermine its dignity.

Meanwhile, Magreth Edward, a member of the Africa Inland Church Tanzania (AICT) at Changanyikeni pastorate in Dar es Salaam, said Tanzanians have every reason to safeguard the peace they enjoy, noting that without peace even religious worship cannot take place.

She observed that places of worship have long served as sanctuaries for believers seeking spiritual healing, while religious leaders have played a key role in mediating disputes and fostering social cohesion.

Ms Edward called on the government, through relevant institutions, to remain vigilant against any signs of a breakdown of peace. She also urged religious institutions to intensify messages of love, forgiveness and unity, condemn hatred and division, and work closely with the government.

“In Tanzanian society, many things unite us. If it is not ethnicity, then it is religion; if not religion, then political party ideology or even football teams,” she said.

Veteran historian based in Dar es Salaam, Mohamed Said, warned that Tanzania should never allow itself to slide into a crisis that would take a long time to overcome, describing religious division as a highly destructive force in society.

He said Tanzanians should reflect on their history, dating back to the colonial period, when Tanganyika was governed without religious conflict and people freely practised their beliefs.

This culture of mutual respect, he noted, has endured from independence to the present day. Mr Said urged Tanzanians to place national identity above religious or ethnic affiliations, calling on citizens to listen to one another and uphold mutual respect.

Another resident, Yusufu Mafuru, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said Tanzanians should recognise that every moment has its purpose and that individuals should, according to their faith, reflect on what God is saying in their lives.

“We have many pressing issues to address before even thinking of disrupting peace. We must ask ourselves whether we have fulfilled our responsibilities. We also have vulnerable people who depend on us, including persons with disabilities and the elderly. If unrest were to occur, would we not be causing them even greater suffering?” he said.