BISHOP Antony Mlyashimba of the central zone of the Baptist Church in the capital has appealed for constitutional reforms and forming an independent electoral commission.

In his Christmas holy at the central cathedral, he said that without those reforms, the 2025 elections need to be postponed to avoid further divisions and conflict.

“To avoid hatred and division, the solution lies in adopting a new constitution and establishing an independent electoral commission. If these reforms are not in place, the elections should be delayed until 2026,” the cleric intoned.

He also criticized the growing animosity in the country, referencing incidents where people celebrated others' misfortunes, citing past rumours about the health of the Head of State. 

“We have reached a point where some people celebrate the suffering of others. This is a dangerous path for our nation,” he warned.

Bishop Dr Dickson Chilongani of the Anglican Church of Central Tanganyika, urged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to avoid using force in tax collection, calling for a more business-friendly environment as advocated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Archbishop Augustine Shao of the Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar also emphasized the need for stability and justice in the lead-up to the 2025 elections. 

“Justice and peace are essential to fostering hope for all," he said, urging leaders to respect the constitution and encourage reconciliation within the community.

Bishop Dr Blaston Gaville, vice chairman of the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) and ELCT bishop for Iringa, praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the government for massive development efforts, citing the standard gauge railway and the Julius Nyerere hydropower project. 

He urged Tanzanians to support these initiatives and pray for the president’s leadership, also advising farmers to use drought-resistant seeds and encouraged responsible financial management. 

Iringa Urban MP Jesca Msambatavangu urged Christians to live by word of scripture to tackle societal issues, while the situation as the country looks forward to the 2025 general electionso dominated homilies.

Religious leaders issued vibrant appeals for peace, unity and responsibility, urging people countrywide to reject corruption, abductions and other forms of violence. 

Top clerics delivering Christmas homilies yesterday spoke on key public concerns like public security, rising road accidents during the festive season, and moral decay.

Another sphere of concerns was criminal activities that are increasingly conducted within families, putting the family institution in peril in many areas.

Bishop Dr Frederick Shoo, head of the northern diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), urged people to expel bad sentiments from their hearts.

Those with great wealth and knowledge need to be aware of the presence of negative influences which renders everything futile, he said at his homily for the Moshi central cathedral, stressing the need for unity to maintain the country's reputation as a beacon of peace.

Archbishop Isaac Amani of the Catholic Church in Arusha urged couples to end the destructive behaviour of harming one another due to the lack of empathy when faced with trials of life.

Married couples need to abandon infidelity, which sows the absence of affection and also a result of the same, he said at his Christmas Eve mass at St. Theresia Parish in the city.

Couples need to stop quarrelling and fighting as such handicaps can lead to tragic outcomes, including murder, he cautioned, pointing at selfishness and occult designs tied to witchcraft as causing extreme cruelties.

Bishop Dr Msafiri Mbilu of the ELCT north east diocese called on those celebrating Christmas to observe traffic rules to reduce road accidents, which have caused many fatalities and permanent disabilities during festive seasons.

His statement was delivered by Julius Madiga, a senior parish worker, during the Christmas service led by Rev. Elias Majo of the Muheza Parish, where the bishop underlined the sadness of nearly 100 people dying in road crashes involved buses and motorcycles just in December.

The pastor encouraged church members to maintain prayer vigils for the country, especially in anticipation of the 2025 elections so that peace and unity may prevail.

Archbishop Emmaus Mwamakula, head of the Moravian Revival Church in Tanzania and East Africa, said this year's Christmas comes at a time when the public is gripped by doubt, fear and despair due to numerous challenges.

He expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing acts of abduction and murder that have caused widespread panic.

He similarly pointed at severe unemployment as a veritable crisis in the country, with many young graduates turning to deviant behaviour, citing cybercrime as an illustration.

"The cost of living has risen significantly with the increase in prices of goods, while income levels remain stagnant," he stated, while Bishop Flavian Kasala of the Geita Catholic Church diocese called on Tanzanians to reflect on their actions and reject corruption, which he warned could undermine electing genuine leaders. 

“We must not allow ourselves to be divided by politicians. Instead, let us uphold peace and solidarity as we approach the 2025 elections,” he said, stressing the need for a peaceful election process.

Bishop Kasala objected to rising cases of abductions, saying they damage Tanzania’s reputation as a peaceful nation. He demanded that such acts be curtailed for a calm and secure environment for the polls.