PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete
Amsterdam — PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete, has said that recent incidents of attack and murder of religious leaders as well as torching of worship houses were faith based and that it was the duty of relevant leaders to tame it.
Addressing Tanzanians living in The Netherlands here on Tuesday, President Kikwete said the government’s duty was to ensure the safety of its citizens including victims of religious violence.
Mr Kikwete who was reacting to a concern aired by the Diaspora on the growing trend of religious intolerance among Tanzanians, said all such incidents could be tamed right in worship houses.
“Government has no religion but it has the duty of protecting its people scattered in various faiths…likewise it is the duty of religious leaders to preach peace and love to their congregations,” the president told the Tanzanian Diaspora.
He said he met with religious leaders on this who promised to work jointly on the matter. They were to meet again at later date, he added. Earlier, the Chairman of the Association of Tanzanians living in The Nertherlands, Mr Francis Kweba, expressed their fear and disappointment over the recent incidents that signal religious intolerance in the country. “Mr President, we are worried by the trend.
There has never been such incidents in the past,” he said. The Diaspora however commended President Kikwete and his government for economic strides and development recorded in various sectors including road construction.
They also asked the president to okay duo citizenship, which he said will be determined by Tanzanians’ views in the new constitution. The president briefed the Diaspora on developments that have taken place in the country and on his mission to the Netherlands.
He said although he was to retire at a point, it was his responsibility to put in place structures that will take the economy to higher heights. He said that included building the capacity of experts in the supervision of various resources including oil and gas to enable the nation reap maximum benefits.
“It will include learning from successful countries such as Norway and Abu Dhabi and avoid mistakes like what happened in The Netherlands whose gas industry was dubbed ‘Dutch disease’,” he said. He said the capacity building will also include empowering Tanzanians in negotiating skills to ensure a win win situation for all especially in the gas and oil resources.
He reminded the Diaspora that they have a role to play in national development and urged them to abide by host country’s laws warning that the government will never protect any criminal.
