The National Chairperson of the youth wing of Tanzania’s ruling party CCM (UVCCM), Mohammed Ali Kawaida, has expressed disappointment over remarks by the President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Archbishop Wolfgang Pisa, during the centenary celebrations of Kipalapala Major Seminary in Tabora last week.
Kawaida, addressing reporters in Tanga on Monday, September 29, 2025 accused Archbishop Pisa of making ‘divisive’ statements, contrary to the role of religious leaders as unifiers of the nation.
“Instead of promoting reconciliation and unity, we have heard a voice of exclusion, forgetting truth, creating a spirit that goes against cohesion,” said Kawada, “this is something our country has always fought against and overcome, as we have seen its destructive consequences elsewhere.”
Archbishop Pisa, in his September 25, 2025 sermon during the Jubilee Mass, stressed the Catholic Church’s strict ban on clergy, priests and nuns’ involvement in partisan politics.
“It is forbidden for a priest, it is forbidden for a nun, it is forbidden for you seminarians to be seen in political campaigns. A great prohibition. We are not supposed to be seen there,” he warned.
This was after reports that several Catholic nuns had attended a campaign rally for President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Mtwara, where they were seen publicly endorsing her re-election bid.
READ MORE: Catholic Church Warns Clergy Against Political Campaigning Ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 Election
Contrary to Kawaida’s accusations, Archbishop Pisa did not bar Catholic faithful from political participation. Instead, he underscored that the prohibition applies specifically to priests, nuns, and seminarians, citing church law that requires clergy to remain politically neutral.
While emphasizing neutrality, Archbishop Pisa clarified that all believers retain their voting rights, though he urged them to exercise conscience responsibly.
“But conscience can be misguided unless you have sufficient understanding,” he added, suggesting that morally grounded priests are best placed to offer guidance in such matters.
Kawaida, however, maintained that religious and community leaders must avoid remarks that could undermine national cohesion.
“Believers contribute significantly to support these leaders. They deserve leaders who seek accurate understanding of national affairs before speaking, because their words carry weight,” he argued.
He further noted that the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has implemented major electoral reforms to broaden citizen participation.
His intervention, however, is already as a possible spark for renewed political tensions, given that the CCM youth wing has often been at the forefront of political confrontations.
