RELIGIOUS leaders have been urged not to get involved in politics and partisanship but strive to maintain neutrality ahead of this year’s local government election and next year’s General Election.

Dr Fredrick Shoo, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Northern Diocese, made the call recently when opening the Kilimanjaro Regional Interfaith symposium under the sponsorship of the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA).

 The two-day symposium brought together various religious leaders and development stakeholders from within and outside Tanzania.

“This year Tanzania is going to hold local government elections as well as the General Election in 2025. My appeal to all my fellow religious leaders is to abide by our ethics; it is not good for us to engage in partisan politics as our role is to support and uphold democratic principles, values, being firm but fair to all,” he said.

“We as clerics should come together; respect each other’s beliefs and values for the sustainable development of our nation. We should live together as brothers and sisters.”

The cleric further explained that if the rights of the people including the right to life and economic rights are denied, peace enjoyed by the country will be in danger.

Dr Shoo cautioned that unity, peace and love amongst people will be in danger if citizen rights are denied particularly national and international taxation justice. 

“Tanzania is endowed with great wealth and today we are here as faith leaders for a tax justice workshop because our role is also to promote good utilization of our natural wealth,” he said.

Dr Glorious Shoo, Tanzania Assemblies of God bishop said that apart from maintaining peace and harmony in the country, the symposium also aimed at promoting the role played by religious institutions in socio-economic development.

“Interfaith meeting is a very crucial gathering as it brings us together for sustainable peace, love and socio-economic development of Tanzania as a nation regardless of differences in our beliefs,” he said.

Mlewa Shabani, Kilimanjaro Regional Sheikh at the Muslim Council of Tanzania, said apart from leading their followers in matters of faith, religious leaders should also remind them to work hard for sustainable economic development of the nation.

“Religious leaders have the role to help and support the needy in our communities.” He said.

Francis Kairu, workshop facilitator and an official with Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) said that the 2022 report from ActionAid Tanzania shows that each year Tanzania loses an estimated 17.4trn/- as a result of internal inefficiencies, tax evasion, harmful tax incentives, double taxation agreements and illicit financial flows.

He appealed to the government to participate in the International tax reforms and the UN tax convention for the benefit of the country.