Govt orders clerics to keep off politics or risk deregistration.

Home Affairs Minister Mathias Chikawe.

Religious institutions whose leaders engage in politics risk having their registrations revoked, the government warned yesterday.

The warning comes barely weeks after scores of religious leaders called on their followers to vote ‘NO’ in the referendum for the proposed Constitution, with others even proposing presidential candidates.

“We’re planning to start enforcing the initiative as early as the 20th of this month at which point all institutions operating contrary to the law will lose their registration,” Home Affairs Minister Mathias Chikawe announced yesterday at a press conference held in Dar es Salaam.

Also, only last month, on March 22, a group of at least 50 Sheikhs from Bagamoyo bid the former Prime Minister and Monduli Legislator Edward Lowassa to contend for Presidency in this year’s General Election.

Citing the Societies Act, 2002 Cap. 337, Minister Chikawe said the government will not tolerate intolerance from religious institutions that habour political interests and sway their followers to political bias.

The Minister decried the fact that religious leaders have been repeatedly making political statements to protect their own interests and declared the practice unacceptable.

“They are making statements designed to persuade their followers to side with one or another political leader or ideology a move which is likely to disrupt peace and order in the country,” he cautioned.

Nonetheless, the minister was keen to note that the religious leaders have constitutional rights to participate in political on a personal level but not to lure congregations in favour of or against any political issues.

“Followers are also constitutionally allowed to engage in political affairs, but this should not come under the pressure of religious leaders,” he detailed.

The minister also warned religious leaders to refrain from fundraising monies for politicians to run for various posts which he said is also a violation of the law and will attract punitive action.

The Home Affairs Minister said the crackdown on suspected institutions will begin in Dar es Salaam as the pilot region ahead of rolling out the initiative in upcountry regions.

Notably, the Minister’s statement comes just a day after President Jakaya Kikwete reassured religious leaders that the government will uphold and protect the right to worship as a constitutional right.

The president also reassured religious leaders that the government will continue to collaborate with them in various economic and social activities.

In another development, the minister expressed grave concern over recent reports of youth joining criminal and terrorist groups. He called on parents and guardians to be vigilant and guide their children to good morals and patriotism.

He highlighted the recent shocking arrest of a Tanzanian along with two Kenyan teenage girls for attempting to cross Kenya’s northern border enroute to joining the terrorist group based in Somalia – Al Shabab.