Tanzania: Proliferation of Churches Blamed for Noise Pollution

My sincere quote "

“To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslims.”- Abuja Islamic  Declaration.

Hazla Omar,  Daily News 8^th April 2016

Arusha — THE proliferation of many churches which undertake their activities throughout the night is said to be an emerging major problem in Arusha City. Arusha regional authorities have begun taking measures to halt the activities of these churches which create chaos to the city's tranquility at night.

Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Daudi Felix Ntibenda, has directed leaders at all levels of governance to warn owners of the churches that their night activities are a source of apprehension to many residents in the tourist city.

"I have received complaints from many people about the activities of the churches - especially the use of loudspeakers in residential areas," he said. "We have a problem in Arusha; almost everywhere nowadays someone erects a tent to establish a church.

For seven days of the week people are treated to noise pollution, It's bad," he said. He directed the local leaders to start working on the issue urgently to minimise noise pollution affecting the majority of Arusha residents during the night.

We can't just ban snooker (pool table) and drinking beer during the day and then allow people to make noise during the night," he explained. Ntibenda banned the sale of sachets of liquor (viroba), in groceries and shops.

"We have banned day time beer drinking in bars, but people have found another way of buying 'viroba' and mixing them with water or other drinks," he said. Meanwhile, Ntibenda has suspended the registration of new weapons until the ongoing exercise to verify people owning guns is completed.

"Once we resume another exercise of registering guns, the process will be different as applicants shall be compelled to start right from the village, ward and division levels before seeking clearance from other levels," he said.

                                           


                                         OUR STATEMENT

R C Ntibenda in his warning, never mentioned the use of loudspeakers five times a day on the high minaret from the Mosques as noise pollution, except a once a week (normally Fridays) overnight  prayers from the church. 

He further ordered leaders at all levels of governance to warn owners of the churches but not to Immams and Sheikhs owners of  the Mosques in the same city. This is bias and religious preference in the secular and diversity of belief like Tanzania.

Bear in mind that some of these leaders are Muslims and members of the Islamic radical groups who always yearn to implement the Abuja Islamic Declaration of 1989 to eradicate Christianity in their regions.

One article of the Abuja Islamic Declaration which align with the ban of the Arusha Regional Commissioner states:  “To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslims.”

Tanzania became member of  The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (O.I.C) and Islam in Africa Organization (I.A.O) in 1989 and later withdrew in 1993. 

To date, some Muslims struggle to influence the government authorities to re-instate the objectives of I.A.O as a stepping stone towards imposition of Shariah Law in the constitution.

One of the instrument to accomplish this mission is to use government leaders who are unaware of the Islamic agenda. In this, Christian community is the victim of the circumstance.

Tanzania is a secular state constitutionally.