Moshi, Kilimanjaro – A prominent retired religious leader has warned that Tanzania is facing a profound crisis of hope driven by a culture of deception, the systematic dismantling of political opposition, and a government that relies on threats rather than solutions.
Bishop Dr Glorius Shoo, the former Tanzania Assembly of God bishop for Kilimanjaro Region, made the remarks during an exclusive interview with The Chanzo on July 3, 2026.
For the full transcript of this conversation, read here.
Speaking from Moshi, Bishop Shoo offered a searing critique of the country’s political trajectory, connecting the violence of the October 2025 elections to a broader failure of leadership and accountability.
“Every single day, citizens’ hope is being lost,” Bishop Shoo said. “Citizens are starting to lose hope in state institutions. Citizens are losing hope in the pillar of justice, the judiciary. Citizens are beginning to lose hope in the parliamentary pillar.”
Bishop Shoo, who also co-founded the New Life Foundation, which focuses on education and child welfare, argued that the government’s refusal to listen to dissenting voices has created a dangerous environment.
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He stated that the country has “killed opposition” and mistakenly views this as a virtue. The result, he argued, is a parliament filled with members from one party who only praise the government, removing any genuine accountability.
“We have created a nation of hypocrites, and we’ve filled every place with hypocrites,” he said.
The retired bishop revealed that he had personally warned senior government and ruling party leaders before the October 2025 elections that the political pressure required either reforms or a postponement of the vote.
His warnings were ignored, and he subsequently faced threats that forced him to remain outside the country for a period.
“The Chande Commission mentioned 500 and something [deaths],” Bishop Shoo noted, referring to the violence surrounding the October 29 elections. “Imagine, people equivalent to a whole school wiped out. This is where we should come and say the nation is bigger than our parties.”
Despite his sharp criticism, Bishop Shoo maintained that he is a friend of the government and believes President Samia Suluhu Hassan did not initiate the current crisis. However, he called on her to take decisive action to restore national cohesion.
When asked what he would do if he were in the President’s shoes, Bishop Shoo offered a clear, three-step prescription.
“The very first thing I would do tomorrow morning is remove Tundu Lissu from prison, first thing,” he said, referring to the detained opposition leader who faces treason charges. “Not because of people’s pressure, but because of the importance of balance.”
Following Lissu’s release, Bishop Shoo said he would immediately call for national reconciliation. Finally, he urged the President to publicly and forcefully condemn actions that violate democratic governance.
“I would stand and condemn, with courage and strength, actions that violate democratic governance and the rule of law,” he said. “I would shout and say, ‘If one more person is abducted, you will answer to me.’”
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Throughout the interview, Bishop Shoo emphasised that leaders must replace threats with genuine solutions. He drew parallels between the ineffective use of corporal punishment on children and the government’s use of force against its citizens.
“There is no way fear-based education has ever succeeded,” he explained. “Threats only bring temporary results. The same applies to the nation.”
He warned that when people lose hope, they have nothing left to lose, making them capable of desperate actions. He urged government ministers to stop blaming the opposition or the diaspora and instead articulate clear plans to address citizens’ demands for a new constitution and an independent electoral commission.
Despite the grim assessment, Bishop Shoo concluded with a message of historical optimism.
“History tells me that since the world was created, no regime has ever succeeded in silencing people’s voices,” he said. “Never. And it will never happen.”
