Paul Samasumo – Vatican City.

In a statement issued on Saturday, 15 November 2025, Bishop Wolfgang Pisa of Lindi Diocese and the current President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), stated that the Bishops “discussed and reflected on what transpired on election day as well as the election aftermath.” The TEC message was read during Mass at the conclusion of the Bishops’ Plenary. The Bishops met in Dar-es-Salaam from 11 to 14 November to pray and deliberate on recent events affecting the nation.

International reputation 

The Bishops collectively condemned Tanzanian authorities for using excessive force to suppress protests. They urge the government to release the names of all individuals still detained on election and political grounds.

“We are very distressed by this situation and condemn these murderous and brutal killings of our youth and others. Truly, this is a great evil and an abomination before our God. We are all wounded; the nation has been hurt and has lost respect in the eyes of the international community,” Bishop Pisa said.

The right to life

The Bishops reaffirmed the right of Tanzanians to peaceful protests, emphasising that protests are an essential means for citizens to express grievances—especially when dialogue fails.

“The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania recognises the right to peaceful demonstration,” said Bishop Pisa.

He continued, “There have been widespread incidents of killings, abductions, assaults, and injuries of citizens, often without a firm effort to stop these evils, which are against the Constitution of Tanzania, specifically Article 14.

Titled ‘The Right to Life,’ Tanzania’s Article 14 of the Constitution states that every person has the right to live and be protected by society in accordance with the law. This means all individuals are entitled to protection of their lives, and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure this right is upheld within legal bounds.”

Erosion of democracy

Bishop Pisa expressed concern that democracy in Tanzania has been undermined by the authorities for some time.

“There is a lack of genuine democracy in how leaders are elected. This has been an ongoing cry of our nation since 2016, and it remains unresolved. Elections lack fair competition, transparency, truth, freedom, and credibility,” he said.

The Bishops’ Conference concluded that the anger expressed in the streets was fuelled by the absence of proper avenues for citizens to voice their grievances.

While the exact death toll remains uncertain—media estimates speak of over 1,000 post-election deaths, and the UN recently reported that “hundreds of protesters and others have been killed and an unknown number injured or detained in Tanzania following protests surrounding last month’s elections”—the full scope of the violence is still unclear.

Call for independent investigation

At Tanzania’s parliamentary inauguration, President Samia Suluhu announced that her government had established a commission to investigate the post-election violence and killings she blamed mostly on foreign elements. However, UN reports indicate ongoing distress among citizens, with families desperately searching for loved ones in prisons, mortuaries and hospitals.

“The tragic events demand an investigation involving stakeholders both inside and outside the country. We recommend that this be conducted by an independent, unbiased commission—comprising international organisations, religious institutions, civil society groups, and experts in justice, democracy, and governance—and that the government be prepared to receive and implement the findings,” The Tanzanian Bishops declared. They emphasised that this step is essential for national healing. Paul Samasumo, Vatican News