Former Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe has presented Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba with a list of development challenges and priorities raised by residents of Hai District. He urged the government to support community-led projects regardless of political affiliations. The presentation was made on November 1, 2026, during the inauguration service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Nshara Congregation, in Machame, Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.
Among the issues raised by Mr Mbowe were the damage to jacaranda trees planted to promote tourism in Hai Constituency and the development of Stefano Moshi Memorial University College (SMMUCo). The jacaranda trees, planted along a 47-kilometre stretch within Hai Constituency, were expected to attract more visitors when they bloom in December. However, some of the trees have been damaged or cut down during electricity cable installation works, threatening their growth and undermining the project's objectives.
Mr Mbowe also emphasised the need for government support for SMMUCo, which has been built through contributions from worshippers and churches. The community wants the university to become an institution specialising in science, technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI). Plans are underway to establish a partnership between SMMUCo and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. The university is expected to begin admitting students next year as infrastructure improvements continue.
ELCT Archbishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa, who attended the inauguration service, called for reconciliation in the country. He emphasised that Tanzania needed people who brought divided communities together rather than fuelled divisions. Dr Malasusa urged people not to remain spectators when conflicts arose around them but to step forward and help find solutions. Reconciliation, he said, should begin within families, choirs, councils of elders, and other community institutions.
Dr Malasusa also urged parents to teach their children good values, expressing concern over incidents of domestic violence. He condemned the killing of married couples instead of resolving their differences through dialogue. The archbishop emphasised the importance of developing a culture of open communication and listening to one another whenever disagreements arose.
Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu responded to concerns raised by religious leaders and development stakeholders, assuring them that the government would continue to respect and strengthen its cooperation with religious institutions. President Samia Suluhu Hassan had taken several steps, including legal amendments, to foster this cooperation. The government, Dr Mwigulu said, would consider the development priorities presented by Mr Mbowe.
The inauguration service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Nshara Congregation, was attended by several high-profile individuals, including Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu, who represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The church was intended to serve more than a place of worship, becoming a community service centre and supporting the advancement of education introduced by missionaries who arrived in Machame in 1893.
Key points
- Former Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe presents development priorities to PM Mwigulu Nchemba.
- ELCT Archbishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa calls for reconciliation in Tanzania.
- Government assures continued cooperation with religious institutions.
