AfricaPress-Tanzania: RIGHT from the onset of our country’s political independence in 1961, disease was one of the three critical enemies that the leadership cited as one of the most critical.
Led by frontline nationalist Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the leadership cited poverty and ignorance as the other deadly enemies.
The point they sought to drive home to their compatriots was that, attainment of political independence was not an end in itself.
The colonial regime had been humbled into accepting the reality that the people of the then Tanganyika, plus, subsequently, Tanzania, were not masters of their destiny.
That was fine, as was the fact that after the colonial masters’ departure, the running of the newly independent nation had been thrust into the local leadership.
It is wise that religious leaders have also called for behavioral change among believers in prayers and keeping track of teachings of the government on how to fight the enemies of development.
They said given the current situation when the world is facing the pandemic coronavirus for instance, clerics all over the world have the duty to take all the necessary precautionary measures to save their congregations from contracting the deadly virus.
The leaders from Tanzania, India and South Africa who held a seminar over the internet (Webinar) under the facilitation of Global Interfaith Wash Alliance in partnership with UNICEF, said religious leaders are duty bound to advise their congregations to make more use of visual platforms such as radio, television and social media for fellowship and sermons.
It is good that the faithful have been reminded on behavior change instead of flocking to Churches, Temples and Mosques as part of the measures to tame the spread of coronavirus.
In reference, Secretary-General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Rev Dr Charles Kitima, said: “Failure to make physical appearance in church or other places of worship is not an offence, especially during this time when religious leaders are looking for ways to stay connected to their congregations away from prayer houses,” he said as he requested people to voluntarily do so.
Yet, so long as the country was held captive to the three major enemies, its independence is still incomplete, hence the Mwalimu-led administration’s resolute ambition to wage a relentless struggle against them.
For the best results, efforts in tackling those critical enemies had to be more-or-less at the same level, and it is good that all government phases have pitched war against them.
This is because, it would be pointless, for instance, for the citizens to be well educated and economically stable, but unhealthy.
Remember that the foundation of success in life is good health and it is also the basis of happiness, because a person cannot accumulate a fortune very well when he is sick.
