Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba was installed as a lay canon of the Anglican Church of Tanzania on 4 Oct 2026 during the consecration of the first Bishop of Handeni, the Rt Rev Charles Mika Lundu. The installation, held at Christ the King Cathedral, Chanika, in Tanga Region, came after Archbishop Maimbo Mndolwa awarded the honour on 21 June 2026 in recognition of Nchemba’s reported support for church development and investment projects.

The ceremony marked the formal inauguration of the Diocese of Handeni, which was separated from the Diocese of Tanga. Dr. Nchemba attended as the representative of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Tanzanian state media described Nchemba as the first person from outside the Anglican church to receive the honorary position of lay canon in the Anglican Church of Tanzania.The title had previously been conferred on Anglican public officials, including former Speaker Job Ndugai, former Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, parliamentary secretary Baraka Leonard, and Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Gerald Mweli.

The reports do not set out the canonical or constitutional provisions under which a non-Anglican may be made a lay canon, nor whether the title entails membership, voting rights, or a role in the governance of the new diocese. Anglican.Ink has not located a public statement from the provincial office addressing those questions.

In remarks reported by the Daily News, Dr. Nchemba pledged continued government cooperation with religious institutions, citing legal changes intended to facilitate charitable status, resolution of tax debts, and exemptions on some church-provided services. He also urged churches and families to cooperate in the upbringing of children and asked religious leaders to pray for Tanzania’s peace, unity, stability, and solidarity.