BENY Israel Mwaisaka, pastor of the FPCT Komwale Church located just outside Handeni town in Handeni District, Tanga Region, has praised the peace Tanzania has enjoyed since independence, describing it as the strongest pillar behind the nation’s progress and stability.
Speaking during a recent community discussion, Pastor Mwaisaka said Tanzania’s peaceful environment has enabled citizens to live in harmony, carry out their daily responsibilities without fear, and participate freely in national development.
According to him, the peace that has existed for decades is not something ordinary, but a blessing built on the vision and sacrifice of the country’s founding leaders who laid a strong foundation of unity, solidarity, and mutual respect among Tanzanians.
He said because of peace, Tanzanians have been able to engage in different social and economic activities with confidence and freedom. Sporting events, businesses, educational programs, and religious worship have all flourished in a stable atmosphere.
Our country has been blessed with peace since independence, and that peace has become a major reason why development has continued in many sectors,” Pastor Mwaisaka said.
He explained that young people in particular have benefited greatly from peace because they have been given opportunities to attend school, pursue higher education, learn vocational skills, and build better futures for themselves and their families.
In a peaceful nation, youth can dream, plan, and work hard toward their future. They are able to focus on education and innovation instead of fear and uncertainty,” he added.
Pastor Mwaisaka also noted that freedom of worship in Tanzania has remained one of the country’s strongest examples of unity. Citizens from different religious backgrounds continue to worship freely while respecting one another.
He said churches, mosques, and other places of worship have operated peacefully because Tanzanians understand the importance of coexistence and tolerance.
“This harmony among believers of different faiths is a sign of maturity as a nation. It shows that we value humanity above division,” he said.
However, the pastor warned that peace should never be taken for granted.
He said when peace disappears, fear rises among citizens, development slows down, and essential services such as education, business, and worship become difficult or even impossible.
When there is no peace, parents fear for their children, traders fear for their investments, and communities lose confidence. Conflict destroys what takes years to build,” he emphasized.
Pastor Mwaisaka urged all Tanzanians to understand that peace is not permanent unless people actively protect it through responsible actions, respect for one another, and commitment to justice.
Peace must be defended every day by every citizen. It needs discipline, wisdom, patience, and love,” he said.
He further encouraged communities to reject hate speech, tribalism, religious division, and any form of behavior that could create unnecessary tension.
According to him, unity remains Tanzania’s greatest strength, and protecting it should be considered a national duty.
Meanwhile, in separate social discussions, Hendry Lema, a retired church elder from the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (KKKT) Engarenaro Congregation in Arusha, has also continued to stress the importance of peace in national development.
Lema said peace is the main pillar that allows society to prosper, insisting that without peace, no real and lasting development can be achieved.
Peace is the foundation of every successful nation. Roads, schools, hospitals, and businesses can only thrive where peace exists,” he said.
He added that social progress depends not only on infrastructure but also on the relationships among people.
When citizens trust one another and live together in respect, progress becomes easier. But where hatred and division grow, development becomes difficult,” Lema explained.
As a father, spiritual guardian, and community advisor, Lema said he always encourages families and communities to return to the principles of love, respect, patience, and tolerance.
“I am a father and head of a family, and I also serve as a spiritual mentor and community counselor. My message is always the same: let us return to the values of love and respect, he said.
He emphasized that every Tanzanian has a role to play in preserving peace, regardless of age, religion, tribe, or social status.
No one is too small to protect peace. Every citizen matters. Even the words we speak can either build unity or destroy it,” he added.
Lema also referred to the teachings of the late founding father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who consistently preached unity, dignity, equality, and love among Tanzanians.
He said Nyerere understood that love is a powerful weapon capable of defeating hatred, discrimination, and conflict.
Our founding leaders knew that unity would keep Tanzania strong. They taught us that love can overcome division and build a better future,” Lema noted.
He urged Tanzanians to place human dignity first in all discussions and disagreements in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Even when opinions differ, we must remember that we are one people and one nation. Dialogue is always better than hostility,” he said.
Lema also called on leaders and citizens alike to strengthen cooperation and mutual respect.
According to him, peace grows when leaders listen to citizens and when citizens support constructive leadership.
He said a nation where people and leaders respect one another becomes stronger politically, socially, and economically.
The church elder concluded by calling on all Tanzanians, regardless of faith or background, to continue praying for the nation and placing God first in all matters.
“When people humble themselves before God and seek wisdom, the nation becomes safer and more united,” he said.
He further encouraged citizens to embrace repentance, humility, and moral responsibility as part of protecting national peace.
Quoting Proverbs 14:34, Lema said: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
He explained that justice, honesty, and righteousness are values that help nations rise, while corruption, hatred, and injustice weaken societies.
Religious leaders across the country have increasingly spoken about the need to preserve peace as Tanzania continues to grow economically and socially.
Observers note that Tanzania’s long-standing stability has made it one of the more peaceful nations in the region, attracting investment, tourism, and cooperation with international partners.
Many citizens believe that the country’s peace has enabled millions of people to work, study, worship, and raise families in a secure environment.
In Handeni, residents who listened to Pastor Mwaisaka’s remarks said his message was timely, especially at a moment when communities must continue promoting unity and rejecting division.
Several community members said peace begins at family level, where children are taught respect, discipline, and compassion.
Others noted that national peace is built through everyday actions such as helping neighbors, resolving disputes calmly, and respecting differences.
As Tanzania continues its development journey, the voices of faith leaders like Pastor Mwaisaka and Hendry Lema serve as a reminder that peace is not accidental.
It is built through sacrifice, maintained through responsibility, and strengthened through unity.
Their shared message is clear: Tanzania’s future depends not only on economic growth and infrastructure, but also on the continued protection of peace, justice, and national togetherness.
With citizens united in purpose and guided by moral values, the country can continue to prosper while preserving the harmony that has defined it for generations.
God bless Tanzania. God bless the people of Tanzania.
Abdul Ramadhani Tanzania
