NDUGU wapendwa, Kanisa la BWANA na Watanzania
wenzangu, napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwashukuru, kwa
uvumilivu wenu, tangu zilipoanza kampeni za uchaguzi mkuu
Agosti 23, 2015. Naamini katika mchakamchaka wa kampeni
hizo mmesikia mengi, yanayopendeza na hata mengine
yanayoudhi mioyo yenu, lakini pamoja na yote hayo,
tunamshukuru Mungu kuwa, tumeweza kuvumiliana hadi
tumefika hapa leo.
Jumapili HII Oktoba 25, tunapiga kura zetu za kuwachagua
viongozi wetu watakao tuongoza kwa awamu nyingine ya
tano. Natambua kuwa, kila mmoja wetu anaelekea kwenye
uchaguzi huu akiwa tayari moyoni mwake amembeba yule
anayefikiri atakuwa kiongozi anayemfaa kwa awamu hii ya
tano, 2015-2020.
Ndugu zangu watanzania wapendwa na kanisa la BWANA,
natambua kuwa kila mmoja wetu anayo itikadi yake, lakini
pamoja na kuwa na itikadi zetu na mapenzi yetu kwa
wagombea wetu, msije mkaondoa kati yenu utu wema,
upendo, uvumilivu, kiasi na fadhili. Katika haya matano
tukiyazingatia kikamilifu tutafikia mwisho mwema kwa
maslahi ya taifa letu.
Tukumbuke kwamba, kwa miaka 54, tangu tupate uhuru wetu
mwaka 1961, tumeishi kwa uvumilivu mwingi, amani na
upendo, hadi kufikia nchi yetu nzuri ya Tanzania, ikapata sifa
njema kutoka kwa mataifa mengine duniani, ya kuitwa kisiwa
cha amani. Kuitwa kisiwa cha amani, siyo kitu kidogo ni
zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu. Hivyo, ni jukumu letu sote,
kuilinda hiyo sifa, kama tunu ya taifa letu zuri, tusije
tukaichezea, kuipoteza kabisa na baadaye kuitafuta kwa
gharama kubwa.
Tumeshuhudia nchi nyingi barani Afrika na kwingineko
duniani, zimepoteza sifa kama hiyo ya kuwa na amani, na sasa
zinaisaka kwa udi na uvumba. Tukumbuke kuwa wakati huu
wa uchaguzi, mataifa mengi yameelekeza macho yao hapa
Tanzania, wakitaka kujua kitakacho tokea.
Ninachokiamini mimi kama Mtumishi wa Mungu ni kwamba,
Kanisa la Tanzania limeombea uchaguzi huu kwa muda mrefu
sana. Mungu kwa kusikiliza kilio cha watu wake atatuongoza
kumchagua yule anayependeza moyo wake, na tayari
amekwisha kumuandaa. Maandiko yanasema: “BWANA
haangalii kama binadamu aangaliavyo; maana wanadamu
huitazama sura ya nje, bali BWANA huutazama moyo.” (1Sam
16:7b).
Nawaomba Watanzania wenzangu na kanisa la BWANA,
tuzingatie maelekezo ya Mungu, atakavyo amua ndani ya
mioyo yetu, tunapowachagua viongozi wetu, wa ngazi za
urais, ubunge na madiwani, ili kutunza amani yetu. Na pia
nasisitiza kuzingatie Sheria za nchi kama tunavyoelekezwa na
Tume ya taifa ya uchaguzi. Napenda kurudia, kwakusema
kwamba, kwakuwa tumeweza kuvumiliana kwa muda mrefu,
hadi kufikia leo. Tuendelee kuivumilia na kuiamini tume ya
uchaguzi, na kwa imani iyo hiyo, tunajua kuwa, tume hiyo
itatenda haki, na kila mmoja wetu kufurahia majibu ya Mungu
wetu.
Nawatakia kila la heri katika uchaguzi, na maisha baada ya
Uchaguzi.
Rev. Dr. Barnabas W. Mtokambali
ASKOFU MKUU
Tanzania Assemblies of God
[TANZANIA ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
HEAD OFFICE
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE NATION FOR THE COMING ELECTION
25TH OCTOBER, 2015
FROM THE ARCH BISHOP OF TAG REV. DR. BARNABAS MTOKAMBALI
Dear Church and my fellow Tanzanians, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank you all for your patience and tolerance since the
beginning of campaign for the general election on the 23rd August 2015
to date.
I believe that in the campaign process you have heard
many pleasant things and some annoying things. However, we thank God
that we have been able to bear with one another until now.
On
the 25th October 2015, we will casting our ballots to elect leaders to
lead us in the coming phase ( phase 5). I know that each one of you has
made up his/her mind as to who you will vote for to take office in the
fifth phase 2015-2020.
My fellow Tanzanians, and the Lord's
church, I know that each one of us have his/her ideology, but together
with our different opinions and political affiliations, let us ensure we
do not depart from: goodness, love, forbearance, self control, and
kindness. If we fully observe these five virtues we will have a happy
ending for the benefit of our nation.
Let us remember that for
the past 54 years since our independence, we have lived in harmony, and
great tolerance that has made our nation to be known by other nations
as "The island of peace". It is not a small thing to be called as such.
It is therefore our collective responsibility to maintain this identity,
as a trophy of our beautiful nation, for if we lose this it will
greatly cost us to regain.
We have witnessed many countries in
African continent and elsewhere, that have lost peace and they are now
painfully seeking it. Let us remember that at this election season many
nations are watching to see what will happen to us. What I believe as a
servant of God is that the Church in Tanzania have prayed for this
election for a very long time. God has heard our cry and therefore will
lead us elect the one He pleases with His heart, and He has already
prepared him. The Scriptures say : “The Lord does not look at the things
people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart.” (1Sam 16:7b).
I beseech all my fellow
Tanzanians and the Lord's Church to adhere to God's instructions,
leading in our hearts as we vote for our leaders in all levels:
President, Legislators and Councilors to maintain our peace. I also
insist that we need to follow our national laws as we are directed by
the National Electoral Commission. Let me reiterate that if we have been
tolerant for all this period, let us continue to trust and have
confidence in the electoral commission, and with that faith we know
they will be execute fairness and each one of us will rejoice in the
answer from our God.
I wish you all every blessing in the election and life after election.
Rev. Dr. Barnabas W. Mtokambali
Arch Bishop
Tanzania Assemblies of God
