Kikwete advises envoys not to politicise religion

BabuK

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Jul 30, 2008
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Cites potential breach of national peace

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President Kikwete addresses religious leaders and members of the diplomatic corps at a Tanzania Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders' Initiative for Peace and Co-existence meeting held in Dsm.

President Jakaya Kikwete has advised diplomatic missions in the country to abstain from politicising religion citing potential breach of national peace.

He said there is evidence that there are some diplomatic missions that have been involved in ‘religionisation' of politics to rally the public in favour of their choice political parties.

"There is evidence showing that after failing to use ethnicity in politics, a number of you have resolved to use religion. You are using religion to support a number of political activities by some political parties," said Kikwete during a dinner for Tanzania Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders' Initiative for Peace and Co-existence conference on Monday evening.

However, the President did not mention the missions concerned, the political parties or the evidence in question.

The head of State however said the path chosen by such diplomatic missions is a dangerous one and has called upon them to help protect Tanzania from the possible problems that can arise out of such acts.

In September 2013
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) protested the participation of the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, in a CCM politically rally in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region saying this was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 which came into force on April 1964.

The Chinese Ambassador Lu Youqing later came out in defence of his participation in a Chama Cha Mapinduzi rally in Shinyanga Region, saying as a diplomat he was ready to work with all political parties in Tanzania to promote development but all within the confines of the law.

The four
day conference which began on Monday is being sponsored by Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) with headquarters in Nairobi Kenya.

Earlier, PROCMURA Chief Consultant warned religious leaders of the dangers of politicisation of religion and religinisation of politics.

"A representative for PROCMURA has given an important message. It is like an idiom – telling high commissioners and ambassadors not to engage in politicisation of religion and visa versa and asking the missions to save the nation from the possible dangers that may follow as a result of such acts.

It is a dangerous means of doing things," said Kikwete in a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications yesterday.

At least fifteen embassies in the country are attending the conference including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Some of the missions that were represented during the dinner and the conference include United States of America (USA), Turkey, German, Norway, Iran, Finland, Egypt, Switzerland, Palestine, European Union, Qatar,
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia Sweden, Demark and Canada.

Religious leaders participating in the conference are from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Morogoro, Mtwara, Lindi, Arusha, Geita and Mbeya. The last Tanzania Christian & Muslim Religious Leaders' Initiative for Peace and Co-existence conference took place in 2012.


SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
 
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