By
Adonis Byemelwa
Evangelist
Reverend Anthony Lusekelo (pictured) has openly criticized President Samia
Suluhu Hassan’s government for allegedly stifling freedom of speech and
ignoring injustices. In a fiery address on his TikTok account, Lusekelo
condemned the disappearance of 24-year-old Shadrack Chaula, who vanished on
August 2, 2024, just weeks after being released from Ruanda Prison in Mbeya.
Chaula
had served a two-year sentence, or an alternative fine of 5 million Tanzanian
shillings, imposed by the Rungwe District Court after he was convicted of
defacing a photograph of President Samia.
His
offense was also tied to spreading false information on TikTok, in violation of
Section 16 of the Cybercrimes Act. Thanks to the support of well-wishers,
Chaula had managed to pay the fine, raising questions as to why he was still
targeted afterward.
The
cleric, popularly known as 'Mzee wa Upako’ expressed his outrage, saying, “If
he had already paid the fine, what reason did they have to make him disappear?
And why are the authorities turning a blind eye to such actions?”
Lusekelo
invoked the words of Tanzania’s founding father, Julius Nyerere, recalling a
famous speech he gave in Msasani: "Let the people speak. If they see the Constitution
being violated, let them speak... I cannot lead a nation of ignorant people who
do not know how to criticize. That would be a bizarre nation." Lusekelo,
however, did not specify when Nyerere delivered the speech but emphasized its
relevance today.
He
compared the current situation to that of previous administrations,
particularly under President Benjamin Mkapa, who faced strong opposition from
Augustine Mrema but never silenced critics. “Despite intense opposition, Mkapa
never suppressed the voice of the people,” Lusekelo said.
In
his TikTok account, the outspoken pastor also took a dig at the police for
punishing Chaula over a photograph, pointing out the hypocrisy of arresting
someone for burning an image of the President when those same images are routinely
used to wrap food and then discarded. "Should we also arrest those using
the President’s picture in newspapers to wrap fish or mandazi?" he asked
sarcastically.
Lusekelo,
who himself has been a polarizing figure, known for his bold critiques of the
government, also noted the decline of free speech under President Samia's rule.
He suggested that her leadership had regressed to the repressive style of her
predecessor, the late President John Magufuli. "Magufuli's regime was a
ticking time bomb because no one can stop people from speaking the truth,"
he warned, adding that Magufuli’s eventual downfall was inevitable due to
public resentment.
The
pastor drew comparisons to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who, despite
providing free social services, met a violent end due to his oppressive grip on
power. “Gaddafi’s fall was not pretty; despite everything he gave his people.
You cannot suppress democracy and expect a good outcome,” he said.
He
praised the administration of former President Jakaya Kikwete, where, according
to him, people had the freedom to express their views openly. "Back then,
we had a strong Parliament. People spoke their minds, and even with fierce
opposition in the house, the government listened," Lusekelo stated. He
lamented the current state of the Tanzanian Parliament, dismissing it as a
one-party institution that lacks any meaningful debate. “This Parliament
doesn’t interest me at all. You can predict what they will say, and it ends
there—same old faces, no fresh ideas,” he said, comparing it unfavorably to
past parliaments led by Samuel Sitta and Anne Makinda, which, in his view, were
vibrant and held the government accountable.
Lusekelo
also credited opposition figures like Tundu Lissu, Dr. Wilbrod Slaa, and Pastor
Msigwa for shaking up the government in the past, noting that despite the
fierce criticism they leveled, then-Speaker Anne Makinda remained tolerant.
“Today, there is no Parliament at all. The MPs are too afraid. You can't tell
who they represent anymore,” he remarked.
The
pastor didn’t hold back on the current state of the nation, warning that
Tanzania’s efforts to silence its people might lead to worse chaos than in
neighboring countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, or the Democratic Republic
of Congo. "These countries are vocal. They speak out, and that’s why they
might find peace before we do. We’ve swallowed our anger because we’ve been
forbidden to speak. But this could blow up in our faces,” Lusekelo cautioned.
He
emphasized that instead of silencing criticism, the government should
strengthen the nation’s "shock absorbers" to withstand challenges.
"You can’t destroy the foundation of this nation that was built by our
forefathers. The police should act to stop this shameful behavior in our
country,” he concluded, voicing his concern over the growing incidents of
violence and disappearances, including the tragic cases of abduction and child
abuse that have recently surfaced.
Lusekelo’s
latest remarks come as part of a growing chorus of dissent from religious
leaders who have increasingly spoken out against the government's crackdown on
civil liberties. Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Tanzania (ELCT), Karagwe Diocese, recently condemned enforced disappearances,
warning that silence in the face of injustice is dangerous for the country’s
future.
The
ELCT presiding Bishop Alex Malasusa and Emaus Bandekile of the Moravian Church
have also voiced their outrage, calling for the end of abductions and urging
the authorities to protect the lives and rights of citizens.
The
message is clear: Tanzania's religious leaders are no longer willing to sit
idly by as their country teeters on the edge of repression. Lusekelo’s fiery
sermons, coupled with the bold stances of other prominent figures in the
Church, underscore a deepening frustration with the current state of affairs.
As Lusekelo warned, “You cannot muzzle the truth forever.” The growing outcry
signals that the battle for freedom of speech and human dignity in Tanzania is
far from over.
