The wife of the Bishop of Biharamulo in the Anglican Church of Tanzania has died in an apparent suicide. On 8 Nov 2023 the body of Mrs. Monica Vithalis (45) was found near the Burigi Chato National Park. Initial reports stated Mrs. Vithalis had been abducted and murdered, however, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the Most Rev. Maimbo Mndolwa urged calm while her death was being investigated.
Archbishop Mndolwa said Mrs. Vithalis’ body had been found along the side of the road in the village of Kasenga in the Chato district. A rope was tied around her neck.
He called on the “faithful and ministers of the Anglican Church in Tanzania to be calm during this period and continue to pray for the family of Bishop Vithalis and the Diocese of Biharamulo so that God will comfort them while the church waits for the investigation report from the relevant bodies.”
Last week the Geita Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Safia Jongo said the police were treating the death as a suicide. He told reporters Bishop Yusuph Vithalis had reported his wife had been unwell and recently had undergone two operations for stomach cancer. The police believe Mrs. Vithalis had been suffering from depression following her unsuccessful surgeries and had taken her own life.
