The presidential elections in Tanzania on October 29 were accompanied by massive protests and violent clashes with the military and police forces. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has been in office since 2021, was declared the winner by the electoral commission with around 98% of the vote and was sworn in behind closed doors on November 3. The opposition, which was excluded from the election, does not recognize this result. The nationwide unrest led to severe restrictions in terms of security and mobility as well as interruptions to communication, supply and transportation routes.
Mission 21 has intensive and long-standing relationships with its partner churches in Tanzania. The Moravian Church in the Southern Province and the Southwest Province of the Moravian Church run vocational training centers, secondary schools and theological training centers. Mission 21 supports both partner churches and the theology department of a university so that marginalized population groups receive fair educational opportunities and are given ways out of poverty.
Mission 21 and its Tanzanian partner churches are particularly committed to helping children whose parents have died of AIDS. They are able to complete comprehensive schooling and vocational training and have access to medical care and psychosocial support. People with disabilities are also particularly affected by exclusion and poverty. Mission 21's program supports them with therapeutic services, promotes their economic independence and fights against exclusion. We are in close contact with our partner churches and colleagues in Tanzania.
In these difficult times, we stand in solidarity with our partner churches and all local people and call for prayer for peace, justice and reconciliation. Â
