The President of Tanzania joined leaders of the Anglican Church of Tanzania last week at the inaguration of the church’s new Economic Centre building in Dodoma. The new building has commercial spaces, a conference hall and a two storey parking garage and is designed to generate income for the Diocese of Central Tanganyika.

The new structure was funded by a grant from Trinity Wall Street in New York, local investors and bank loans. The Sh 8 billion project is projected to provide an income of Sh 1 billion per year ($400,000).

President Samia Suluhu Hassan told the August 15th, 2023 gathering the Tanzanian government encouraged churches and NGOs to contribute to the economic as well as social development of the country.  “Religious institutions are an important partner for the government,” she said.

The President also encouraged the church to promote moral values and condemn wrongdoing. Many of the ills facing the country, she noted, arose from the moral failings of its leaders. The church had its share of problems, she added, urging all churches ensure they were not abused by unethical leaders. “Service to mankind is service to God”, she said.,

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the Most Rev. Maimbo Mndolwa, urged the government to hold fast in the face of criticism.  “Just as I believe the President is being met with ‘hammers’ of criticism, truly, at the end of the day, we are the ones that use the roads, board aeroplanes, and use the ships as well,” he said, adding:  “Where work is steadfast, doubts are necessary, but victory will arise when we stand with God.”