By Lake Zone Watch writer
Deputy Prime Minister Doto Biteko has directed the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development and Mwanza City Council officials to meet next Friday under the supervision of the Regional Commissioner to discuss the sensitive land issue which the African Inland Church of Tanzania (AICT) complains that it has remained unsolved for too long.
AICT Archbishop Mussa Mwagwesela was bitter in his message he delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister that there was a slow pace and insensitivity in solving problems facing one of Tanzania’s oldest church in terms of land acquisition.
Dr Biteko, who yesterday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new building to house the AICT headquarters in Mwanza City, urged leaders countrywide to ensure that problems facing the people wherever they are get immediate attention.
The Deputy Prime Minister wondered why Mwanza city authorities did not heed Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango’s directive on the AICT ownership of Bulima and Kahunda secondary schools and the church’s plot at Makongoro area.
“We know the Bulima and Kahunda issue. I want to assure you that we’ll work on it; but I am unhappy with the way the ownership of the Makongoro plot is being handled since the Vice-President gave his directive in January 2023. If it’s possible or impossible just inform the AICT authorities,” he said.
Dr Biteko said President Samia is at all-time ready to listen to advice from religious leaders as part of forging unity in governance and building of the nation.
For his part, Archbishop Magwesela assured Dr Biteko that his 115-year-old church will continue to work should-by-shoulder with the government in the provision of social services and imparting entrepreneurship skills to the people as a strategy to empower them economically.