Bishop Stephano Lameck Musomba of the Diocese of Bagamoyo in Tanzania has denounced the killings connected to the country’s disputed Oct. 29, 2025, general elections. / Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania
ACI Africa, Nov 14, 2025 / 12:24 pm (CNA).
The bishop of the Diocese of Bagamoyo in Tanzania has denounced the extrajudicial killings connected to the country’s disputed Oct. 29 general elections, stressing that those suspected of breaking the law should be allowed to go through legal processes instead of being killed unlawfully.
In his homily during a Eucharistic celebration on Tuesday that was held in honor of the victims of the election-related violence, Bishop Stephano Lameck Musomba underscored the need to uphold justice and due process when handling individuals suspected of any criminal wrongdoing.
“Some of those who were shot were participating in demonstrations, others were at home, on their way to work, or in their shops. They were struck by bullets and lost their lives,” said the 56-year-old Musomba during the event, which was held at the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in his diocese.
Musomba began his episcopal ministry as an auxiliary bishop of Dar-es-Salaam in July 2021 and became the first bishop of the Bagamoyo Diocese, which was officially erected on March 7.
Demonstrations reportedly spread across Tanzania for several days following the Oct. 29 vote, as citizens took to the streets to protest an election that, according to foreign observers, fell short of democratic standards after key opposition figures were barred from participating.
At least 240 people have reportedly been charged with treason in connection with the deadly protests, while human rights groups alleged that thousands were killed in the post-election violence and warned that some victims may have been buried in secret mass graves.
Musomba noted that “even those who took part in demonstrations” should not have been judged or condemned instantly, emphasizing that guilt must be determined by a court of law and punishment should follow legal procedures.
“That is why, in matters of guilt, we speak of a suspect,” the Tanzanian-born member of the Order of St. Augustine said, adding: “It is the court that determines whether a person is guilty. And if found guilty, the rightful consequence is imprisonment, not death.”
He emphasized that “justice for everyone is the foundation of true peace in any nation” and called upon the people of God in the country to return to the founding principles of justice, peace, love, and solidarity that he said defined the country’s early years as a nation.
“You cannot build a house in the air. The foundation of true peace in any nation is justice — justice for everyone. If we are not careful, we will go astray,” he said.
He added: “Everyone is shocked. We are sad. We are crying. We don’t understand how this happened or why it has become this bad.”
“Now we are killing each other like animals, we hate each other, we are enemies, we do not help one another, we do not guide one another. It is a big problem,” Musomba said.
He went on to reflect on the sanctity of human life, stressing that those killed in the election-related violence “should be remembered not as political casualties but as children of God whose lives were sacred.”
“We were created in the image and likeness of God, whose nature is eternal. Whether you have sinned or not, your dignity remains,” he said. “That is why we say a human being deserves respect from another human being, not to be treated or handled however one pleases.”
He continued: “A person has the right to live, the right to be heard, the right to medical care, and the right to express themselves freely, and where there is justice, there is joy, unity, understanding, and brotherhood. No one sees another as an enemy.”
The bishop urged the people of God in the east African nation to continue praying for the souls of the departed, for healing among the injured, and for the nation to remain united.
“We pray that God may receive them in heaven and grant recovery to those who are still in pain. We place our country, Tanzania, in his hands. We pray for justice and peace, the foundation and strength of our nation, so that it may stand firm forever,” he implored.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Ruwa’ichi of the Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam on Nov. 9 and Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga of the Archdiocese of Mbeya on Nov. 10 also condemned the killings linked to the election-related violence, each delivering a strong message about justice and peace and presiding over Masses for those killed in the violence.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
