By Adonis Byemelwa
In an emotional and powerful address, Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese, delivered a poignant reflection on the state of the nation, decrying the erosion of freedoms and the escalating abductions under the current political regime. His words resonated deeply, painting a grim picture of a country grappling with an invisible but palpable loss of liberty—a loss that cuts through personal grief and the heart of the nation.
“Today, I mourn not one, but two losses,” Bagonza began. “I have lost my dear friend, the late Bishop Chediel Sendoro, with whom our friendship was built on patience and mutual understanding. But more tragically, I mourn the loss of my beloved country, which has been hijacked by individuals who think they can suppress freedom and peace in the name of power. They may think they are controlling people—critics, dissenters, opposition figures—but in reality, they are enslaving the very freedom and peace of our nation.”
His emotional outpouring comes at a time when Tanzania finds itself in the grip of rising political tensions. Recent abductions of activists, journalists, and opposition leaders have created a wave of fear that the freedom Tanzania once enjoyed is slowly being suffocated. Bagonza’s concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the crackdown on dissent in the name of national security are shared by many.
Reflecting on Tanzania’s history, the bishop highlighted the tragic episodes of the past, pointing to the refugee crisis that followed the 2001 elections in Zanzibar. “I remember how refugees fled after the elections. It was nothing to be proud of,” he said, recalling former President Benjamin Mkapa’s regrets over the incident.
“I too have been a refugee once, and I would never wish that on anyone. But now, we are creating refugees once again, forcing people to flee their homeland. This must end—we should be exporting goods to the world, not our people. Let those who are comfortable with refugees be the ones to leave.”
The bishop was equally critical of Tanzania’s approach to reconciliation efforts following the divisive 2020 elections. He called out the failure of various initiatives meant to heal the nation, including the 4R’s initiative, the Mkandala Commission, and the Criminal Justice Commission. “None of these efforts have brought the healing we need. Perhaps it’s time we look to examples like Rwanda’s Gacaca courts or South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As a nation, we must swear to ourselves: this must never happen again.”
Bagonza also addressed the growing chorus of voices calling for President Samia Suluhu Hassan to step down, likening them to those who once demanded her predecessor remain in power against the will of the people. “We tolerated those who once said ‘whether he (Magufuli) wants it or not,’ and now we must listen to those saying ‘Samia must go,’” he said, warning that breaking the constitution is a perilous road that the country cannot afford to travel again.
In a damning critique of the use of force against political dissenters, the bishop likened it to a broken relationship. “Using force only creates more harm. It’s like breaking cups in a fight, only to end up buying new ones after the argument. For those without power, it’s like being taxed to replace those broken cups. Resorting to violence is an admission of failure—it’s no different from committing assault after being rejected in love.”
The recent spike in abductions across Tanzania, where individuals are forcibly disappeared only to reappear—if at all—days or weeks later, is not just a national tragedy but also a growing international concern. Human rights organizations have sounded the alarm, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemning the Tanzanian government’s inaction on these violations.
Meanwhile, the international community has called for investigations and accountability, but these calls have been met with strong resistance from President Samia, who has made it clear she despises external interference in Tanzania’s internal matters.
Bishop Bagonza stressed the cyclical nature of repression, warning that those who commit atrocities will ultimately face the consequences of their actions. “When freedom is taken away, no one is safe. If you are used to killing today, your commander will eventually turn on you. This chain of violence has no end. We are all brothers and sisters—let’s not kidnap and kill each other. Those being protected by their guards are, in reality, prisoners of their protectors.”
His voice grew solemn as he recalled the grim consequences of the 2020 elections, which left Tanzania a shell of its former democratic self. “All branches of government suffered when freedom was stolen in 2020. A parliament dominated by one party is something no one enjoys, not even its members. Local councils controlled by a single party are useless even to termites. And the judiciary, once independent, became a mere tool for show. Those who were oppressed during the fifth regime have now become the oppressors in the sixth.”
Bagonza issued a stark warning ahead of the upcoming elections in 2024 and 2025, saying that the signs of a repeat of 2020’s democratic erosion are already showing. “Who among us wants to live in a one-party state of thought?” he asked, calling for vigilance to protect the nation’s hard-earned freedoms.
The bishop also questioned the use of force and fear in governance, criticizing the continued reliance on arrests and abductions to silence dissent. “There is no difference between an arrest and an abduction anymore. When they say ‘we have arrested him,’ witnesses say ‘he was kidnapped.’ The only thing we gained from these arrests were burlap sacks. Why spend money training people to arrest, only to turn them into kidnappers?”
In his final reflection, Bagonza emphasized the sanctity of life, warning against the trivialization of human blood. “Murder doesn’t have to come in large numbers. Even one death is too many. Some parents only have one child—that child is their many. We cannot cheapen human life simply because it has no price tag. Within every human being, there is a spark of divinity. Let us not kill God.”
His message concluded with a chilling yet heartfelt plea: “Investigations have been ordered, but as President Samia herself once said, self-examination is the hardest task. The cries of those calling for justice are like the wails of mourners. The killers have done their work; let the mourners cry in peace.”
