Tanzanian Catholic Archdiocese Sets Date to Pray for Victims of Electoral Violence

Dar es Salaam, 06 November, 2025 / 10:21 PM

The Catholic Archdiocese of Mbeya in Tanzania has invited the people of God in the Metropolitan See to unite in prayer and in acts of mercy for the victims of the October 29 general-election-related violence in the East African nation.

In a Tuesday, November 4 message, the Archdiocese instructed all Parishes “to have a special intention” on Sunday, November 9, to pray for our deceased brothers and sisters and all the injured who suffered harm during the General Election.”

“We shall also have a special Archdiocesan Mass to pray for these brothers and sisters, which will take place at the Mwanjelwa Marian Shrine, Mbeya,” read the November 4 message that the  Secretary of the Mbeya Archdiocese, Fr. Henry Mwayenga, signed.

The message addressed to members of the Clergy, women and men Religious and the Laity urged all “Priests serving in the Deaneries of Mbeya, Mbalizi and Mporoto” to mobilize the faithful to attend the Eucharistic Celebration set to be presided over by the Local Ordinary of the Mbeya Metropolitan See, Archbishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga and Bishop Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga.

“We are all requested to participate in large numbers in that Mass, entrusting to Almighty God the souls of the departed and praying for healing for all those who were injured, so that our nation may continue to live in peace, unity, and love,” the Diocese said.

The Tanzania Archdiocese encouraged those willing to offer humanitarian support to channel it through “ their respective  Parish Pastoral offices.”

“Let us all unite in prayer and acts of mercy, wishing our nation true peace and unity,” said the November 4 message.

Local sources in Dar es Salaam city have reported that calm is returning to Tanzania after days of violent protests that followed the country's disputed general elections of October 29.

“The situation is calming down, and internet connections have been restored since yesterday,” sources contacted by the information service of Propaganda Fide, Agenzia Fides said in a Tuesday, November 4 report.

Demonstrations reportedly spread across Tanzania for several days after the October 29 voting as locals took to the streets to protest an election that foreign observers said failed to meet democratic standards because key opposition figures were barred.

Following the disputed October 29 presidential election, the President-elect, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared the winner on November 3 with 98 percent of the vote, was sworn in for a second term amid tight security.

A BBC report says the inauguration ceremony, which took place after “an election marred by violent protests and rejected by the opposition as a sham,” was “held at a military parade ground in the capital, Dodoma, instead of a stadium as it happened in previous years.”

According to the BBC report, authorities in the East African nation have sought to downplay the scale of the violence, and the nationwide internet shutdown, which was in place until the afternoon of November 3 made it impossible “to obtain information from the country or verify the death toll.”

“Access remains severely restricted, especially to social media sites and messages platforms,” the BBC reported, citing information by internet monitor NetBlocks.

Meanwhile, the Holy Father has expressed sadness over the deadly clashes in the East African nation, and encouraged Tanzanians “to avoid all forms of violence and to follow the path of dialogue.”

Pope Leo XIV also launched an urgent appeal for peace and humanitarian access in Tanzania, decrying escalating violence that has left civilians dead and aid blocked in parts of Africa.