Religious Tolerance in Tanzania: 122 arrested over Mbagala riots, burning of churches

By Frank Aman and Bernard Lugongo, By The Citizen Reporters

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

At least 122 people have been arrested in connection with Friday’s violent clashes in Dar es Salaam’s Mbagala suburbs between anti-riots police and Muslim youth protesting an alleged act by a 14-year-old boy of desecrating the Quran.

The riots erupted on Friday when the youth stormed a local police station and demanded that the said boy be handed over to them so that he would be punished accordingly.  

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police commander Suleiman Kova said yesterday that 32 of those arrested allegedly vandalised and torched church buildings while the 86 were arrested for demonstrating.

“Mbagala is now calm and we have beefed up security so that no such incident would reoccur at the area,” he said.

According to commander Kova, at least seven churches were attacked. Properties were destroyed, vandalised and burnt at the Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) Mbagala Kizuiani, while one car was burnt and eight others had their windows smashed.

He named the churches that were attacked during the chaos as including TAG Shimo la Mchanga, Kizuiani Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), Church of Christ at Rangitatu, Kizuiani Anglian church, Agape at Kibondemaji and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) at Mbagala Zakhiem

ELCT head bishop Alex Malasusa yesterday visited the area and appealed to Christians to remain calm as their leaders worked on the matter. “We don’t have anything to say at this moment. We first need to meet with leaders of other Christian denominations so that we’ll come up with a joint position. We ask Christians to take part in Sunday services and pray for peace and the future of our country,” said Bishop Malasusa.

Those who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday at different times yesterday called for religious tolerance and respect for other people’s faith in order to maintain the prevailing peace and tranquility in the country.

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) secretary general, Fr Anthony Makundi, said the gruesome incident should remind Tanzanians of the need to embrace the culture of respecting each other’s faith.

Africa Inland Church bishop Peter Kitula was saddened by the incident saying the country should learn techniques of solving its problems in a peaceful manner.

For his part, Council of Islamic Organisations secretary general Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda blamed the police for causing the turmoil.

“I think the police mishandled the matter. They failed to give the matter its due weight when the boy was initially sent to them. Muslims were enraged by this police laxity, making them feel sidelined,” Sheikh Mponda said.

Human rights activist Helen Kijo-Bisimba said the government delayed in taking appropriate action.

“Had the authorities acted speedily, the matter would not have gotten out of hand,” Dr Bisimba argued. 

But opposition party NCCR-Mageuzi secretary general Samuel Ruhuza attributed the incident to high level of unemployment.

Source: The Citizen (14/10/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/26531-122-arrested-over-mbagala-riots-burning-of-churches