A prominent Tanzanian Catholic priest and government critic has been violently attacked amid rising political tensions ahead of elections due in October.
Fr Charles Kitima, who had attended an all-day religious meeting, was ambushed by two people at night in a canteen restroom near his residence in Dar es Salaam.
According to the police, he was hit on the head with a blunt object and was later admitted to hospital, where he is in a stable condition.
Eyewitnesses said Fr Kitima had been seen talking to several people before the attack, and was later found bleeding and calling for help, moments after individuals were seen fleeing the scene.
The police say they have detained a suspect, while investigations continue.
The attack on Fr Kitima, who is the secretary-general of the Catholic bishops’ organisation, Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), has been widely condemned.
Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, who visited the priest in hospital, said it had been “a brutal attack with the intent to take his life”.
Posting on X, Mwabukusi said Fr Kitima had a message for Tanzanians that “we should not be afraid to pay the price for standing up for justice and fulfilling our duties to the country”.
Political tension is increasing in Tanzania ahead of the general elections, with rights groups raising concerns over shrinking civic space, accountability, and justice.
Opposition Chadema party vice-chairman John Heche said the incident was bad “news for the country”.
Fr Kitima has frequently criticised government policies and is widely known in Tanzania for his bold stance on democratic reforms and human rights.
Credit: bbc.com
