The Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) has officially dissolved the Board of Trustees of the Tanzania Seventh-day Adventist Church following findings of serious mismanagement of church assets and failures in executing institutional responsibilities.
The move follows a special audit by the Office of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), which revealed that the board failed to manage the church’s resources properly and did not adhere to legal and procedural requirements.
Speaking on February 24, 2026, in Dar es Salaam during the handover of the audit report, RITA Chief Trustee and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Kanyusi, described the board’s dissolution as a necessary legal step to safeguard the church’s assets and restore governance discipline.
He noted that the church’s leadership has seven days to submit a list of ten members to serve on an Interim Committee. This committee will oversee the church’s assets and operations until a new Board of Trustees is legally constituted.
“The decision to dissolve the board is intended to protect institutional assets and ensure accountability within church leadership,” Kanyusi said.
The special audit was initiated after complaints from some church members to RITA and the Registrar of Civil Societies under the Ministry of Home Affairs, alleging mismanagement and abuse of authority.
Kanyusi explained that the audit followed consultations with the Registrar of Civil Societies, Emmanuel Kihampa, to verify the legitimacy of the complaints.
Kihampa confirmed that his office had received reports that certain church leaders failed to manage the institution responsibly, leading to confusion and grievances among members.
He added that, upon receiving the complaints, his office worked closely with RITA to take swift action, particularly against members of the dissolved Board and executive leaders of the church.
This decisive intervention underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance within religious institutions in Tanzania.