Africa-Press – Tanzania. RELIGIOUS leaders have unanimously appealed to Tanzanians to embrace peace and justice as a way of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.
Celebrating Christmas Eve, the church leaders stressed that Christmas should serve as a reminder to members of the public to continue upholding peace and doing justice.
Dar es Salaam Archbishop Yuda Thaddeus Ruwaichi of the Catholic Church called upon Tanzanians to love each other and care for others during difficult times.
Archbishop Ruwaichi further commented that strengthening the country’s peace and love was important. He said this at St Joseph Church in the city on Christmas Eve.
He noted that apart from the fact that the nation was peaceful, it would be better if peace was lived with love and care for Tanzanians.
“As I wish you merry Christmas, let me remind you about strengthening peace and love, especially to poor Tanzanians,” Archbishop Ruwaichi said.
Fr Meshack Malilo of St Alban’s Cathedral echoed a similar message, saying Christmas had to serve as a reminder of two things: justice and peace, noting that justice was about being fair to others.
“We have been speaking about justice, without knowing that justice and responsibility have to go together,” he stated.
He told parents, as leaders of their families, to ensure they did justice to their children and husband did justice to his wife and vice versa if they needed peace to prevail in the family.
“Sometimes we demand justice at its totality without knowing that justice is inextricably linked to responsibilities,” he emphasised.
For his part, Rev Chediel Lwiza of Azania Front Lutheran Church told worshipers that Christmas meant the birth of the King of peace, Jesus Christ, who was against wars and conflicts.
“This means that we can’t have peace without him, the King of peace. We should look for him and have him in our hearts so that peace can be with us,” he stressed.
