Moshi. Former Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe has presented Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba with a list of development challenges and priorities raised by residents of Hai District, urging the government to support community-led projects regardless of political affiliations.
Among the issues he raised were damage to jacaranda trees planted to promote tourism in Hai Constituency, the development of Stefano Moshi Memorial University College (SMMUCo) and the need to ensure that community projects receive government support without political discrimination.
Mr Mbowe presented the concerns on November 1, 2026, while speaking on behalf of young people who participated in organising and mobilising support for the construction of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Nshara Congregation, Machame, Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.
The church’s inauguration service was attended by Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu, who represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Speaking about the Keep Kilimanjaro Beautiful initiative, Mr Mbowe said jacaranda trees had been planted along a 47-kilometre stretch within Hai Constituency to beautify the road leading to Machame and make the area more attractive to tourists.
He said residents had financed the planting with permission from the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), with the trees expected to attract more visitors in December when they bloom.
However, some of the trees have been damaged or cut down during electricity cable installation works along the route, threatening their growth and undermining the project’s objectives.
“When the government sees communities implementing development plans regardless of political affiliation or religion, it should support them rather than discourage them,” he said.
On education, Mr Mbowe said residents had set aside 50 acres of land and handed them over to the ELCT Northern Diocese for the construction of educational institutions.
He said part of the vision was to develop SMMUCo, which had been built through contributions from worshippers and churches, including residents who sold their agricultural produce and livestock to raise funds.
“Many buildings worth billions of shillings have been constructed through contributions from Christians, including offerings from people who sold chickens and sugar cane. The diocese is expected to complete the buildings in the coming days,” he said.
Mr Mbowe said the community wanted the university to become an institution specialising in science, technology, innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), equipping young people to respond to global technological changes.
He also disclosed plans to establish a partnership between SMMUCo and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, urging the government to support the initiative.
The expectation, he said, was for the university to begin admitting students next year as infrastructure improvements continued.
Mr Mbowe added that the educational progress achieved by communities in Kilimanjaro before independence had been made possible by the efforts of previous generations, placing a responsibility on the current generation to sustain that legacy.
He said the church was intended to serve more than a place of worship, becoming a community service centre and supporting the advancement of education introduced by missionaries who arrived in Machame in 1893.
“This is not a church for Nshara alone; it is the church of Christ. Nshara has three neighbourhoods, but this church belongs to more than those three neighbourhoods. It is a church for Hai, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and God. Everyone who fears God is welcome to benefit from the services provided here,” he said.
Malasusa calls for reconciliation
While Mr Mbowe focused on development priorities, ELCT Archbishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa emphasised the importance of reconciliation, saying the country needed people who brought divided communities together rather than fuelled divisions.
He said taking the initiative to reconcile people with opposing views was not easy, as those who attempted to mediate disputes sometimes faced criticism, insults and accusations of betrayal.
“Reconciliation is easy to talk about, but being a reconciler is difficult and comes at a cost. These days, people can call you all sorts of names, including a traitor and many other things. They may even call you two-faced simply because you are trying to reconcile others,” he said.
Dr Malasusa said reconciliation should begin within families, choirs, councils of elders and other community institutions rather than waiting for major conflicts to emerge.
He urged people not to remain spectators when conflicts arose around them but to step forward and help find solutions.
“Stand up as a reconciler and be a child of God. Condemn divisions. Why should you be happy when people quarrel? Why should you celebrate when people are fighting?” he asked.
On parenting, the archbishop urged parents to teach their children good values, expressing concern over incidents in which married couples killed each other instead of resolving their differences through dialogue.
“You are witnesses to the many incidents we have heard about, some of which are difficult to comprehend. Instead of resolving their differences, married couples end up killing each other. This is deeply distressing, and we strongly condemn it,” he said.
He said couples should develop a culture of open communication and listening to one another whenever disagreements arose.
Mwigulu responds to Mbowe’s concerns
Responding to concerns raised by religious leaders and development stakeholders, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu said the government would continue respecting and strengthening its cooperation with religious institutions.
He said President Samia had taken several steps, including legal amendments aimed at eliminating discrimination in the recognition of religious institutions involved in community activities and reviewing tax exemption procedures.
“President Samia has sent me to emphasise that she and the government she leads will continue to respect this cooperation between the government and religious institutions,” he said.
Dr Mwigulu said the President had directed relevant authorities to review tax exemptions following complaints about how religious institutions were being required to pay taxes.
Highlighting the contribution of religious institutions to national development, he cited their role in healthcare and education, including services provided by Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi.
“Anyone familiar with our country’s history knows that it is impossible to discuss Tanzania’s development comprehensively without acknowledging the contribution of the Church,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hai Member of Parliament Saasisha Mafue asked the government to support the renovation of ageing schools in the constituency, saying some had deteriorated after years of use.
She said although some schools had already been renovated, others still needed government support to provide pupils with better learning environments.
She cited Lomo Primary School as one of the institutions that had undergone renovation and appealed for similar assistance for other schools.
“Since you have come here, Prime Minister, please help us renovate at least three more schools,” she said.
Migiro contributes Sh10 million as fundraising reaches Sh484 million
In another development, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu announced that his office would contribute Sh100 million towards the development of SMMUCo.
He also disclosed that CCM Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro had pledged Sh10 million after following the event live.
He said Dr Migiro had contacted the Regional Commissioner to communicate her contribution on behalf of the ruling party.
“CCM Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro called the Regional Commissioner and said she had been following the event live. On behalf of the party, she is contributing Sh10 million and will send the party’s Director of Organisation to deliver the contribution,” he said.
Dr Mwigulu added that President Samia had contributed Sh150 million since the university construction fundraising initiative began.
He said preliminary figures showed that Sh484 million had been raised during the event, against a target of Sh500 million.
This left a shortfall of Sh16 million, prompting him to appeal to other stakeholders to contribute towards reaching the target.
“I have just received preliminary figures showing that Sh484 million has been raised at today’s event. We are Sh16 million short of reaching the Sh500 million target,” he said.