TANZANIANS have been urged to cherish national unity and avoid religious differences that could divide them.
Equally, they should work hard and double the production of cash and food crops to enable the nation have sufficient food.
Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Kagera Regional Chairperson, Ms Costancia Buhiye made the remarks on Sunday on behalf of the Regional Commissioner (RC), Albert Chalamila, during a pilgrimage held in Missenyi district’s Nyakijoga Marian Shrine.
She hailed President Samia Suluhu Hassan for implementing people-oriented projects. “For many years Tanzanians have enjoyed national unity. Each one of us has a duty to safeguard national interests. We should not allow religious differences to divide us,” she stated.
Ms Buhiye commended the Catholic Church for supporting government efforts through construction of schools, hospitals and health centres which have positive results on the majority Tanzanians.
During his homily, Auxiliary Bishop Methodius Kilaini, the Apostolic Administrator for Bukoba Diocese appealed to Tanzanians to respect marriage ties as a fundamental institution of moulding good citizens. He equally urged parents to ensure good upbringing of their children.
He noted that it was saddening that most parts of the world are engaged in fighting, resulting in loss of millions of lives.
“Tanzania, one of the most peaceful and politically stable African countries, offers an attractive investment climate, a rich and diverse natural resource base and a growing consumer market. It’s these widely acknowledged factors that have made the country a darling of foreign investors and multinational companies,” he said.
He encouraged Christians to stay close to God, show kind love to neighbours as well as urging them to uphold religious values.
“Right now there is freedom of worship, this is the right platform and it has to be used effectively. The Church is committed to continue preaching peace and solidarity and serving human needs, both spiritual and physical needs,” said the spiritual leader.
He appealed to residents in the region to take a holistic approach in eliminating gender based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC), appealing to religious leaders to preach peace, love and good relations among their followers to minimise unruly incidents of killings.
The Nyakijoga Marian Shrine (the Lourdes of Africa) was established in 1952. In 1958, the late Laurian Cardinal Rugambwa (then bishop of Bukoba), asked the Vatican to grant plenary indulgences of Lourdes to those who would make their pilgrimages to Nyakijoga instead of Lourdes, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Lourdes. The request was granted.
Every year, the last Sunday of October is the day of pilgrimage to Nyakijoga. Thousands of worshippers, some of them from foreign countries, make pilgrimage each year in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
