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Throw out tainted leaders - cleric
2008-03-24 10:27:42
By Lydia Shekighenda
A leading cleric of the Moravian Church has demanded that all senior officers implicated in on-going corruption scandals should resign.
Delivering an Easter homily during a prayer service to mark Easter, which was held at national level at Tabata Moravian Church, Dar es Salaam, Bishop Lusekelo Mwakafwila said the move would help the government retain good leaders and preserve the country`s prevailing peace.
Bishop Mwakafwila urged the government to refer to the 1967-Arusha Declaration, which compelled unethical leaders to give way to others.
``Nowadays, corrupt leaders are protected rather than held responsible as was the case during the Arusha Declaration era,``he said, adding: ``Leaders who go against the country`s ethical codes should not be entertained. They should be thrown out.``
He said the ongoing massive and intolerable corruption was perpetuated by greedy leaders.
``Rules and regulations are set to guide errant authorities. They should be held responsible by resigning at once,`` Bishop Mwakafwila said.
He said Tanzania was a peacefully country, but if the government would not take the unscrupulous individuals to task, the situation might lead to unnecessary chaos.
Bishop Mwakafwila urged Christians to celebrate Easter by preaching peace to those who experienced violence wherever they might be.
On the emergence of false evangelists, the Moravian Bishop cautioned them to immediately stop frightening people with false prophesies.
``We should identify these persons and never allow them to lead us,`` he said.
He cited as an example a church in Mbeya, whose followers were told to leave their homes and instead go to the mountain to wait for Jesus.
He said Jesus Christ had given his people peace, thus it was everyone`s duty to maintain it.
Speaking during the occasion, the Chairman of Moravian Church, Southern Province, Reverend Clement Mwaitebele, cautioned the government to reveal the use of money that had been recovered after it was stolen from the Bank of Tanzania`s External Payment Arrears account.
``The government should disclose the use of the recovered cash as a way of doing away with more questions,`` he said. He said people were well aware of what was going on and would wish to know where the money had been allocated.
Mwaitebele advised the government to channel the funds through credit societies so that people could secure loans.
He proposed that the remaining amount be allocated to security organs so that they improved their performance and the rest be given as subsidies to universities and hospitals.
Mwaitebele, however, said he supported President Kikwete`s stance of discouraging tribalism and religious intolerance.
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