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Tanzania: Region’s Faith Leaders to Take Role in Peace Building Print E-mail
Written by CISA   
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Christian and Muslim leaders in Eastern Africa have resolved to work in solidarity in the pursuit of peace, justice and reconciliation in the conflict-scarred region and Africa in general.

The commitment is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a 5-day conference held in the Tanzania port city by the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA). The pan-African Christian organisation works towards the promotion of peace and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims and the wider society.

The conference, from September 1 to 5, brought together Christian and Muslim leaders from six countries in Eastern Africa, under the theme, ‘Religion and Conflict Prevention/Management, Peace Building and Reconciliation in Eastern Africa.’ Participants came from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

The leaders studied the causes of misunderstandings that lead to violent conflicts in the region and how religion and religious differences have been misused and manipulated to poison relations and lead to the loss of human lives and property.

They decried the suffering resulting from violent confrontations perpetrated by some of the followers of the two religions. They noted the common mission Christianity and Islam have, to build, uphold and sustain peace in the society at all times.

The leaders affirmed that they have the utmost responsibility to ensure that justice and peace prevailed in the region and that religious communities should be mobilised to promote understanding, trust and peaceful coexistence.

Religious leaders and communities must ensure that there is mutual respect, understanding and appreciation of each other’s religious values, beliefs and practices, the leaders said. “Interfaith engagement is a strong tool that can be used to identify and harness potentials for the realisation of peace and peaceful coexistence.”

To play an effective role in peace building and to act as reconcilers, religious leaders should remain politically impartial and desist from partisan politics.

The faith leaders also urged governments and political leaders to practice good and responsible governance by, among other things, developing and implementing policies that respect and uphold religious and cultural pluralism.

They pledged to engage constructively with policy-makers to re-examine education curricula and policies with a view to inculcating the spirit of mutual understanding and trust among communities.

Equitable national development, the leaders observed, was required in the region, as the tendency of some governments to use state resources to favour specific communities is not only immoral but also a recipe for conflict.

They asked governments to involve religious leaders in policy development and conflict management.
Last Updated ( Monday, 15 September 2008 )