RELIGIOUS BODIES’ ASSETS ASSURED

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday promised to offer legal support to Muslim and Christian institutions countrywide to recover their properties fraudulently hired or sold off to investors.

President Magufuli said he was aware of many complaints from Muslim institutions over their properties, particularly lands being grabbed by investors through deceptive contracts entered with their clerics.

“I know this problem has become rampant as the Mufti (Chief Sheikh) has shared with me in the past. I promise to offer experienced legal experts from my government to recover the properties,” he promised.

Dr Magufuli was speaking during the Idd-el-Fitr Baraza held at national level in Dar es Salaam as part of celebrations to mark Idd. He cautioned Muslim and Christian leaders against entering into dubious contracts with investors since such agreements could amount to losing the rights of such communities.

He advised the National Muslim Council, Bakwata, to ensure that it makes a follow up on areas where there were conflicts between investors and the Muslim communities for the sake of peace in the country.

“Assets belonging to Muslims or Christians should be taken back to the ownership of Muslims or Christians to ensure peace,” he said. Meanwhile, President Magufuli has appealed for peace and unity among the people regardless of their religious and political differences.

He said he was pleased by the new spirit shown by the present Mufti, Sheikh Abubakar Zuberi, who he observed desires to unite all Muslims in the country. He praised Mufti Zuberi for his generosity while keeping a low profile when serving the people regardless of his position.

In another development, at a separate event held earlier at the Mnazi Mmoja Grounds in the city, the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, who led Muslims at the Idd prayers to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, praised the cooperation and understanding existing between Muslims and Christians in the country.

He urged all Muslims to try and continue maintaining morals and living an upright life as demonstrated during the Holy Month of Ramadhan, when submission, sacrifice, charity and prayers prevailed.

Mr Majaliwa hailed all Muslims on their successful observation of the holy month, urging them to celebrate Idd-el-Fitr peacefully and abstain from evil acts. “It will be pointless to have observed Ramadhan doing good and pleasing Allah and then revert to evil acts during the Idd festival. You abstained from drinking and other evils during the holy month; so continue doing so,” the prime minister urged Muslims.

He called on all Tanzanians to continue supporting and praying for the Fifth Phase Government under President John Magufuli, stressing that the state needed all the support to realise its objective of bringing positive change for the benefit all Tanzanians.

“The government needs your continued support and prayers. Tanzanians should continue advocating for peace and harmony, which is paramount for the development of this nation,” he said, praying for those who will continue with the six-day (sita) fasting after Ramadhan.

Mr Majaliwa also called for a minute of silence and prayers for the victims of the road accident in Singida Region in which two buses, all belonging to the same company, City Boys, collided, killing 30 people and more than 40 others injured, some of them seriously.

“The government has directed security organs to step up efforts and surveillance in checking reckless drivers who are endangering the lives of Tanzanians,” the premier said.

Also speaking at the Baraza, held at the Karimjee Hall grounds, Mufti Zuberi said Bakwata would always support the government in ensuring that peace and unity prevail.

He called on government leaders to serve the people fairly and get rid of corruption.

The chief sheikh also used the platform to denounce same-sex marriage in the country, noting that such unions were against God’s teachings in all holy books.

Elsewhere, top government leaders yesterday reminded Tanzanians to uphold the existing national unity, love and peace to all people, avoid racial discrimination and cherish respect regardless of differences in religion denomination as well as ideologies.

Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein underscored the importance of unity, peace, stability and political tolerance in his Idd message. Hundreds of Muslims gathered for Idd prayers at the Maisara Grounds, where Sheikh Fadhil Soraga emphasised on unity, peace and stability, condemning ongoing acts of political hatred and division among the people. I

n his 40-minute speech at the Idd Baraza (gathering) held at the refurbished Ministry of Information hall in the Stone Town, Dr Shein also highlighted on the need for concerted efforts in ending cholera outbreak and violence against children and women in the Isles.

He said although the month Ramadhan was time to do good, incidents of discrimination, deliberate sabotage of government and people’s properties, including crops in the farms and gender-based violence (GBV) tarnished the holy month and the good image of Zanzibar.

Dr Shein appealed to religious leaders, activists, teachers, parents and political leaders to join together against acts of sabotage, corruption and abuse because they were unacceptable religiously and morally.

“Political leaders should not instigate violence and motivate breach of existing laws. Chopping farm crops like rice, cassava, rice, cloves is a crime.

The government will remain on full alert to hunt for the suspects and send them to court,” said Dr Shein. Before and after the re-run elections on March 20, there has been organised sabotage of crops in the farms and other properties and disobedience to government leaders.

President Shein has also dismissed as ‘mere gossip and misleading’, acts by a section of the people who go around trying to distract the people from their focus and commitment to achieve development goals as per CCM 2015/2020 election manifesto.

“Let us concentrate on development. There is no room and reason for an interim government while another election will be held in 2020,’’ Dr Shein appealed to Zanzibaris.