Dar es Salaam. Police are holding a man in connection with the attack on Fr Dr Charles Kitima, Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), which occurred late Wednesday at the organization’s premises in Kurasini, hours after a recording of him went viral on social media, criticising what he called “lawlessness” and emphasizing the need for electoral justice ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 elections.
Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro told journalists on Wednesday that Rauli Mahabi, alias Haraja, along with an unnamed accomplice, attacked and injured Dr Kitima, striking him in the head around 9:45 pm. The assault occurred as the cleric stepped out to use the restroom at TEC’s canteen in Kurasini.
“He was immediately rushed to Aga Khan Hospital for treatment and is now recovering well,” Muliro said during his brief press conference. “Police have detained the suspect, a Kurasini resident, for interrogation in connection with the incident. Further investigations are underway to determine the motive and identify any additional perpetrators, ensuring that the law takes its course.”
Dr Kitima is a highly respected religious and social justice leader in Tanzania, renowned for his expertise and passion in democratic governance and the rule of law. His counsel is widely sought by leaders and activists across Tanzania and beyond. For years, he has worked tirelessly alongside others to advance democratic reforms and social justice, both at the national level and within grassroots communities.
From defending the Maasai communities facing forced evictions to supporting small-scale fishermen against systemic oppression, and collaborating with civil society to advance human rights and good governance, Fr Kitima has consistently stood with the marginalised. He has never wavered in his commitment to challenging injustice and demanding better accountability from authorities in their dealings with the people they serve.
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Growing opposition
Wednesday’s attack occurred amid growing opposition from religious leaders against government practices they deem unlawful, including the mistreatment of opposition figures. Dr Kitima has been at the forefront of this criticism, condemning actions such as the treason charges against CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu and demanding government guarantees that the October 2025 elections will be free from violence and rigging.
“Our duty as the Church is to denounce evil,” Kitima said during a recent interview. “Stealing citizens’ votes, introducing fake or invalid ballots, and declaring someone who did not receive the majority of votes, while ignoring the rightful winner, that is evil, and it is the work of the devil.”
The Catholic Church, alongside other religious denominations, has been a leading voice in urging the Tanzanian government to implement electoral reforms. During the church’s Easter message on April 20, 2025, TEC President Bishop Wolfgang Pisa expressed scepticism about whether current conditions would ensure free and fair elections.
“How can you assure the people today that the general election will be fair?” he wondered. “The irregularities identified in the 2024 election have not been corrected or addressed. The issues that arose need to be resolved quickly. And if there is genuine will from the responsible parties, there will be enough time to make those corrections before the general election.”
Politics and religion
These appeals have drawn official attention, with authorities characterising them as an inappropriate blending of politics and religion. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently maintained that the two spheres should remain separate, urging religious leaders to focus on promoting peace from their pulpits rather than engaging in political discourse.
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“Religious platforms should not be used by politicians,” the Head of State warned at the National Eid Council held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam on March 31, 2025. “Instead, religious leaders should ensure stability is upheld at all times.”
The attack on Dr Kitima on Wednesday followed a series of threatening messages directed at him on social media platform X. One particularly ominous post from a user identifying as ‘Dr Frey Edward Cosseny’ warned the cleric to “stop playing politician” or face consequences.
The user instructed fellow platform members: “Deliver this message to him.” The post continued ominously: “Soon he’ll receive exactly what he’s asking for. His medicine is already cooking in the kitchen.”
Condemnation
The attack on Dr Kitima sparked widespread condemnation, with numerous stakeholders denouncing it as “reprehensible” and calling on law enforcement to identify and prosecute not only the perpetrators but all those involved in the assault.
“The attack on this prominent religious leader is shocking and disturbing, painting a dangerous and troubling picture of the security situation in our country,” leader of opposition ACT Wazalendo party, Dorothy Semu, said in a statement.
“It makes one wonder – where would an ordinary person find the audacity to assault a religious leader like Father Kitima at the TEC offices during this period when he has been such an unwavering voice condemning the injustices and human rights violations occurring in our nation?” asked Semu.
Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) president, Boniface Mwabukusi, wrote on X: “I am deeply shocked by the reports of the attack on Father Dr Charles Kitima. This is a battle of darkness against light, a war of evil against goodness, a struggle of oppression against justice. I am closely following these developments, and we shall never kneel before evil.”
