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Sunday, April 23, 2023

Morality and action over CAG report dominate Eid messages

 

Dar es Salaam.  Muslim clerics and the government issued messages demanding action over those implicated in the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report as well as deteriorating ethics in society.

Yesterday, Muslims in the country joined their fellows across the world in commemorating Eid ul Fitr, marking the conclusion of the 30 days of fasting, which is an important pillar of Islam.

The Islamic Communities and Institutions in Tanzania also issued a document consisting of recommendations on different issues, including ethics, the country’s education system, education, and laws.

Speaking during the Eid ul Fitr prayers, chief cleric Mufti Abubakar Zubeir Bin Ally prayed for the country’s peace, tranquilly, and protection against fraud and ethics erosion.

Speaking to King Mohamed VI in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Mufti Zubeir said, “There were all the reasons for Tanzanians to protect ethics, unity and solidarity.”

During the event, also attended by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, ministers, envoys, and people from different dignitaries, Mufti Zubeir requested support for the provision of the moon sighting equipment.

“Kenya and Zanzibar have their own machines. We therefore request your support to enable us to possess our machine,” he requested. Coast Region cleric Sheikh Khamisi Mtupa said people implicated in the CAG should be held accountable, noting that their selfishness retarded Tanzania’s development.

“These people also sabotage efforts that are made by the Six Phase government to bring development to citizens despite being entrusted to supervise the implementation of development projects in the country,” he said.

“Instead of prioritising personal desires, these people are supposed to execute their duties under the fear of God. Legal measures should be extended against all those implicated by the CAG report for the law to take its course,” he added.

He voiced concern about schools and religious stations that provide unethical teachings, noting that the same are not accepted before God.

At Mtoro Mosque in Dar es Salaam, Sheikh Abbas Ramadhani asked Muslims to maintain the good deeds gained during the Holy Month of Ramadan by extending help to the poor and people in need.

“Everybody should do things that please God. Adulteration and jealousy separate people from God,” he said.

Speaking at the mosque, Sheikh Othman Hamis cautioned Muslims to avoid evil during this year’s Eid ul Fitr celebrations, warning that doing so would make the 30 days of fasting meaningless.

“Maintain all the good deeds acquired during the Holy Month of Ramadan, such as visiting patients admitted to hospitals and providing support to Muslim teachers who are greatly in need,” he said.

At the Ngazija Mosque in Dar es Salaam, Sheikh Issa Ibrahim wanted Muslims to maintain good ethics in order to receive God’s blessings.

Addressing the Eid Baraza, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged parents and religious leaders to pay attention to moral issues for children in this period of technological revolution in order to protect the country’s culture.

“I call upon all my fellow mothers and fathers: let’s go and be responsible for protecting our children; this is our treasure and our resource,” stressed the President, asking religious leaders to take action to manage morals by teaching children.

In Zanzibar, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi insisted on the need to maintain good deeds, voluntarily respect the law, and avoid incidents of violence, corruption, and embezzlement of public funds.

Addressing the Eid Bazara at the Sheikh Idrissa Abdul Wakili Hall, President Mwinyi said the Zanzibaris should cooperate in fighting the vices that contravene the good ethics and culture left behind by their forefathers.

“The society should maintain all the good things acquired during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Parents and guardians should ensure children are raised according to morality to enable them to become good citizens,” he said.

He challenged the police force to increase supervision of road safety laws in order to reduce accidents and congestion.

Mbeya Region Sheikh Msafiri Njalambaha said incidents of ethics deterioration, gender violence, and homosexuality should be collectively condemned.

“Incidents of rape, murder, and homosexuality are currently destroying the world,” asking for collective action instead of leaving the matter to the government alone.

The Islamic Communities and Institutions in Tanzania said in the document signed by its secretary, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, that it is disappointed with the erosion of ethics as unveiled by the CAG report.

The organisation says in a document that it has been angered by unveiled negligence and fraud in public funds, hinting that despite measures taken by the government, it remains unsatisfied.

“Leaders and executives with authority in public services should be recruited based on their ethics. The President should take more action, especially on things that don’t need Parliament’s action,” according to the document.

“For instance, the formation of an independent commission to investigate the former Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) rests in the President’s authority,” reads another part of the document.

Furthermore, the document advises Parliament to speed up the functions of parliamentary committees responsible for the oversight of public funds in order to enable citizens to see how they are represented.

The document also wants security organs to be educated on issues of homosexuality in order to ensure a similar understanding is acquired as in the case of illicit drugs and terrorism.

“The government should issue a statement to nullify a letter dated November 4, 2018, that advocated issues of homosexuality in society,” says the document.

“The government should submit the bill of law to Parliament that will motivate and mobilise religious weddings to counter increased incidents of divorce, prostitution, naked music and video, HIV-related deaths, and sachet-packed alcohol,” reads another part.

 

Education

The document proposes that religious subjects be made mandatory for children in schools all over the country and that they sit examinations organised by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Nacte).

“The government should provide empowerment support to all organs entrusted to supervise the provision of education in all religions. Combinations involving religious subjects should also be formed,” he said.

 

Judiciary

The Islamic Communities and Institutions in Tanzania recommend that all charges be liable for bail and that the government withdraw restriction powers.

Furthermore, the document recommends that bail conditions shouldn’t aim to stall the process and that the prosecution shouldn’t have the power to change the charges facing the suspect.

“Parliament should press on the President to implement court judgements because failure to do so contravenes the constitutional powers vested in the Judiciary,” says the document.

 

Laws

The Islamic Communities and Institutions in Tanzania were of the opinion that the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Cap. 19, should be nullified.

The organisation says that on September 19, 2022, Tanzania joined the African Union Declaration, enabling troops from member countries to participate in operations inside Tanzanian soil on the grounds of fighting tourism with the organisation.

The document wants President Samia Suluhu Hassan to give amnesty to remanded Muslims in Ukonga/Segerea, Maweni-Tanga, Kisongo-Arusha, Butimba-Mwanza, and Morogoro.

Written by Kelvin Matandiko, Baraka Loshilaa, Emmanuel Msabaha (Dar), Jesse Mikofu (Zanzibar), Sanjito Msafiri (Kibaha), Bahati Chume (Hai), Saddam Sadick (Mbeya).

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