Dar es Salaam bishop subject to ecclesisatical inquiry for diverting $2.7m
A Dar es Salaam civil court has dismissed a corruption complaint filed against the former Primate of Tanzania and current Bishop of Dar es Salaam, the Rt. Rev. Valentino Mokiwa. On 24 May 2016 the civil court ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear a complaint of malfeasance in the conduct of church affairs, holding an ecclesiastical tribunal was the proper venue for the complaint. In April 2016 the Tanzanian House of Bishops authorized an investigation into Bishop Mokiwa’s handling of church finances. He is alleged to leased to commercial developers for 40 years over three dozen diocesan properties without the consent of the diocesan standing committee or synod. He is accused of pocketing the $2.7 million in proceeds. On 23 May a provincial standing committee team charged with investigating the complaint met with the bishop seeking an explanation for the transactions. While the House of Bishops meets this month, the review is not expected to be completed by that time. Bishop Mokiwa’s allies have denied he has acted inappropriately and suggest the charges are motivated by political concerns surrounding the 2018 election for a new primate of Tanzania. The case continues.
