RELIGIOUS leaders in Tanzania urged young people to stop being used to advance agendas that do not address their real challenges, encouraging them instead to take control of their own future and become peacemakers.

Speaking at the national interfaith and youth conference on peace restoration, Sheikh Hamis Mataka, national chairman of Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA), called on youth to unite despite of their differences and create that address their challenges.

“The destiny of the youth is in their hands, so they should realize that hatred does not end with hatred; only Peace and love can bring lasting solution”, Sheikh Mataka emphasized.

He reminded participants that all religions reject the use of force and hatred as a means to solve problems, stressing that violence often worsens situations rather than improving them.

Quoting Mathew 5:9 from the bible - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" – Sheikh Mataka urged youth to actively choose to be peacemakers and demand their rights peacefully.

He noted that both Christianity and Islam stress forgiveness, love and responding to injustice with peaceful actions rather than violence.

“Patients and wisdom are crucial”, he said “the youth can be heard more quickly if they peruse their rights through peaceful means rather than violence”.

Rev. Monica Lugome of Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) reinforced this massage, urging youth to embrace forgiveness despite setbacks.

“Forgiving does not mean condoning what happened, it is a healing process, and a step toward restoring hope”.

Youth must seek peace and overcome evil with good, she said citing Roman 1221.rather than violence, to overcome evil with good as the Bible stated in Romans 12:21. Rev Lugome encouraged to focus on building a good future rather than destruction.

Deus Kibamba a Lecturer at the Centre for Foreign Relation (CFR) highlighted that the self-coordination of youth has been disrupted, causing them to lag instead of progress,

He called for the greater inclusion of youth in decision-making process at all levels of government. Warning that political parties have often exploited young people to create division.

Gwamaka Mwakanjala from the Norwegian Church Aid NCA stated that the conference created a meaningful space for dialogue on the shared role of youth and faith leaders in peace building. He said youth have the potential role in promoting peace, stability and the national unity.

Participants also shared their perspectives, Erica Badris a student from Dar es salaam Institute Technology (DIT)  urged unity across religious and ethnic line, saying " she said Tanzania is built on various religions and ethnicities, but we should not allow the diferences to divide us".

Hamis Luto from College of Business Education (CBE) called on the government to establish a functional system for youth to submit complaints and urged religious leaders to continue advising authorities against the use of force.

The conference concluded with the unified: Tanzania youth should be empowered to lead with peace, dialogue and cooperation, building a stable and inclusion society for the future. The conference was organized by the Interfaith collaboratively with NCA.