HomeNewsImpasse in Dar es Salaam

Impasse in Dar es Salaam

Published on

spot_img

The Primate of Tanzania’s call for the Bishop of Dar es Salaam to step down has been rejected by the diocese’s standing committee.

On 6 Jan 2017 the Most Rev. Jacob Chimeledya, Archbishop of Tanzania met with the standing committee of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam to discuss the findings of a provincial investigation into the conduct of their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Valentino Mokiwa (pictured). The report prepared last May found Bishop Mokiwa had leased to commercial developers over three dozen diocesan properties without the consent of the diocesan standing committee or synod. The report accused Bishop Mokiwa, the former primate and archbishop of Tanzania, with pocketing the $2.7 million in proceeds.

On 21 Nov 2016 the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania gave Bishop Mokiwa an ultimatum: resign by year’s end or be deposed from office. Bishop Mokiwa declined to respond, prompting this week’s meeting between the primate and the diocesan standing committee.

The bishop’s supporters have dismissed the allegations of corruption, arguing the charges were based on tribal and political jealousies. Supporters of Bishop Mokiwa have pushed back against the bishop’s opponents — primarily found in the Evangelical wing of the church — (Bishop Mokiwa is an Angl0-Catholic) — and have called for the resignation of the provincial secretary. The church’s third power block, the faction comprised of bishops drawn from the Wagogo tribe in Central Tanganyika had supported Bishop Mokiwa after the May report was first presented to the House of Bishops in June. However, they moved against him in the November meeting and backed his call to resign.

A source familiar with the situation in Tanzania tells Anglican Ink, the situation is now one of  ecclesiastical “chaos”.

Latest articles

Pray, Speak, Act: A Word from Bishop White Following the IRS Decision to Permit Church Endorsement of Political Candidates

People of God in Southern Ohio, “…Then he said unto them, ‘Give therefore to the...

Anglican Church of Kenya statement on the “State of the Nation”

ACK statement on the state of the nation 2025.07.11Download

Deepening Crisis in the Anglican Diocese of Highveld

The Anglican Diocese of Highveld is facing an unprecedented crisis under the leadership of...

Pastoral letter to the diocese of Oklahoma urging priests not to bring politics into the pulpit

Since 1954, the Johnson Amendment in the tax code has said that churches risk...

Has Living in Love and Faith come to an end? An open letter to the Archbishop of York

Dear Stephen I read with interest your address to York Diocesan Synod on 5th July, and...

More like this

Pray, Speak, Act: A Word from Bishop White Following the IRS Decision to Permit Church Endorsement of Political Candidates

People of God in Southern Ohio, “…Then he said unto them, ‘Give therefore to the...

Anglican Church of Kenya statement on the “State of the Nation”

ACK statement on the state of the nation 2025.07.11Download

Deepening Crisis in the Anglican Diocese of Highveld

The Anglican Diocese of Highveld is facing an unprecedented crisis under the leadership of...