In a significant development, the Catholic leadership in Tanzania has raised objections to a recent accord that grants port management rights to a company based in Dubai. The prominent religious figures within Tanzania's Catholic community are urging their government to reconsider and potentially annul the agreement, which hands over the responsibility of overseeing the country's ports to an Emirati corporation.
Voices of concern have emerged from Tanzania's Catholic Bishops, who have taken a strong stance against the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Tanzania and Dubai. This agreement, which would grant exclusive rights for port operations to the Dubai-based DP World company, has prompted the Bishops to caution the Tanzanian Government about its potential consequences.
A Contentious Debate Unfolds
Amidst fervent discussions and divergent viewpoints, the weekend bore witness to an impassioned debate. The Tanzania Episcopal Conference's Secretary General, Fr. Charles Kitima, took center stage as he delivered a Pastoral Statement during a press conference in Dar es Salaam. The statement, signed jointly by 37 of the nation's bishops, crystallized their collective stance. This declaration emerged following a closed-door assembly convened in Dar es Salaam the previous week.
The origins of the controversy trace back to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that laid the groundwork. Subsequently, in October 2022, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) surfaced, detailing economic and social cooperation for the development and enhancement of sea and lake ports within Tanzania. The country's parliamentary ratification of this pact on June 10, 2023, occurred against the backdrop of a tumultuous and divisive national discourse.
A Chorus of Dissent Finds Expression
Fr. Charles Kitima, the TEC's Secretary General, took the responsibility of conveying the bishops' perspective to the local media. Resolutely, the bishops underscored their response as an echo of the clamors resounding from the majority of Tanzanians, who fervently advocate for the agreement's nullification.
"Our attentive observation of discussions, opinions, suggestions, and the cries of the majority of our citizens, who collectively possess ownership of our ports and resources, reveals an overwhelming rejection of the terms within this agreement," the bishops articulated.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei
In a testament to their convictions, the bishops invoked the Latin adage "Vox populi, vox Dei" — the voice of the people is the voice of God. They continued to emphasize, "Given the widespread aversion towards these unfavorable investment conditions in all our ports, and in recognition of the government's accountability to its citizens, leaders must heed the people's voice, as it reverberates with divine resonance."
Despite several instances of advisory interventions, including meetings held on June 12 and 26, the bishops lament that their counsel and recommendations seemingly went unheeded by the government.
A Nation Fractured by Agreement
The bishops, in their poignant statement, expressed a deep sense of sadness at witnessing the fracturing of the nation due to the port agreement. This pact has effectively cleaved the populace into two factions: those in support of the agreement and those staunchly opposing it. Moreover, they underscored the presence of an intimidating atmosphere, wherein some pro-agreement individuals felt compelled to align with the stance out of fear for their governmental positions.
A Pattern of Neglected Concerns
The bishops contended that this disregard for public sentiment is not a novel occurrence. The Pastoral Statement further referenced an emotive issue affecting Tanzania: the recurrent displacement of the Maasai community from their ancestral pastoral lands by government actions.
"Repeatedly sidelining the public's concerns in favor of investments that overlook their voices has caused immense suffering for communities such as the Maasai in Loliondo. Their cultural and social rights have been violated, resulting in a prioritization of investments that offer little benefit. Consequently, the Maasai people endure undue hardships," the bishops' statement affirmed.
An Amnesty International report from June 6, 2023, painted a vivid picture of the Tanzanian authorities' forceful eviction of the Maasai community from Loliondo, a division within the northern Ngorongoro district in the Arusha region. The report also detailed instances of ill-treatment, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and coerced evictions endured by members of the Maasai Indigenous community, perpetuated by the Tanzanian government.
0 Comments