Why Gwajima Churches Will Not Conduct Masses This Sunday?

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Despite some pundits foreshadowing that Gwajima’s mega-churches will conduct mass prayers this Sunday (on 15th June 2025) the gospel truth ought to come out that they fail to grasp the harsh realities currently determining the imbroglio.

We should expect no church service this Sunday until the matter is fully resolved by the High Court, and subsequently the Appeals Court knowing CCM will not walk away on the matter easily without getting a face saving analgesia.

Based on the current developments, here is a prognosis of the situation regarding Gwajima’s church:

⚖️ 1. Naming Controversy and Legal Argument.

   – The Registrar of Societies’ deregistration letter specifically identifies the church as “Glory of Christ Tanzania Church (Ufufuo na Uzima)”.

   – Gwajima’s lawyer claims no church named “Glory of Christ Church” is registered, suggesting a technical discrepancy in the legal name. However, the government’s documentation includes both the English and Swahili names, with the Swahili name “Ufufuo na Uzima” prominently featured in official correspondence.

🏛️ 2. Current Legal Status and Court Proceedings.

   – The church cannot operate pending the court’s decision. The Registrar’s directive requires “immediate cessation of all activities,” enforced by police sealing the premises.

   – Gwajima’s legal team has filed for “temporary relief” to resume operations before a full hearing. As of June 14, 2025, “no interim ruling has been issued”. The High Court must explicitly grant permission for any temporary reopening.

✋ 3. Distancing by Similarly Named Church.

   – Another church with a similar name has publicly distanced itself from Gwajima’s church and the ban. This reflects potential confusion over naming but does not affect the legal status of Gwajima’s church.

✝️ 4. Possibility of Sunday Service (June 15, 2025).

   – Mass will almost certainly NOT be held*l due to:

     – Physical blockade:

Police have sealed the church with tape and deployed armed officers.

     – Legal prohibition:

 Operating the church violates the deregistration order, risking penalties .

     – Pending court decision:

The High Court has not yet ruled on the temporary relief request. Without an “explicit court order suspending the ban by Sunday”, services cannot legally proceed.

Key Developments Timeline:

Conclusion:

The Gwajima church “cannot conduct mass on Sunday (June 15)” unless the Dodoma High Court issues an emergency ruling before then overriding the deregistration.

Given the police blockade and lack of interim court approval as of June 14, services are effectively suspended until the legal process concludes. The court’s decision on temporary relief—likely next week—will determine if operations can resume before the full appeal hearing.

Why Gwajima has gone A.O.W.L, and the complaint was lodged in High Court and not to the minister?

 Gwajima’s church (officially named “Glory of Christ Tanzania Church” or “Ufufuo na Uzima Ministry“) opted for court action instead of solely pursuing the ministerial appeal due to a combination of legal, procedural, and political factors. Here’s a breakdown:

⚖️ 1. Legal Strategy:

Challenging Procedural Violations and Lack of Faith in Ministerial Process.

   – Violation of Natural Justice: 

     The church’s legal team, led by Advocate Peter Kibatala, argued that the deregistration violated the “principle of natural justice” (audi alteram partem). The Registrar of Societies issued the ban “without prior notice, hearing, or opportunity for the church to defend itself”. This bypassed legal safeguards, making the appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs inherently flawed.

   – Lack of Faith in the Minister: 

     Home Affairs Minister Innocent Bashungwa announced in Parliament a **broader crackdown on “unregistered churches” and pledged to table a “thorough analysis” of religious institutions for parliamentary action. This signaled that the minister was “aligned with the government’s political agenda” rather than acting as a neutral arbiter. Given this, Gwajima’s team viewed the 21-day ministerial appeal as futile.

⚖️ 2. Technical Grounds for Court Action.

   – Invalid Deregistration Letter: 

     The deregistration notice was addressed to “Glory of Christ Church” – a name **not formally registered** in Tanzania. The church’s legal entity is “Registered Trustees of Glory of Christ Tanzania Church“. The State even called the letter “speculative” and “non-existent” since it was circulated on social media and not formally delivered. This discrepancy rendered the ban legally void.

   – Immediate Harm Requiring Judicial Intervention: 

     Police enforced the deregistration by “sealing the church, detaining congregants, and blocking access” – actions the church argued violated constitutional rights to worship. Court action was necessary to halt these measures urgently while challenging the ban’s validity.

 ⚖️ 3. Gwajima’s Disappearance: Safety and Strategic Withdrawal.

   – Safety Concerns: 

     Gwajima has not been seen publicly since police surrounded his church on June 2, 2025. His lawyer confirmed he was “not arrested” but in a “safe location”, citing undisclosed security risks. This aligns with reports of heightened tensions, including arrests of church members and police deployment at his residence.

   – Political Isolation: 

     As a ruling-party (CCM) MP, Gwajima’s criticism of abductions and government actions “contradicted party loyalty”. President Samia Suluhu Hassan publicly condemned his influence, warning against “Gwajimanisation” of CCM. His disappearance may reflect a tactical retreat to avoid further confrontation while the legal battle proceeds.

 ⚖️ 4. Broader Political Context.

   – Systemic Suppression of Dissent: 

     The deregistration follows a pattern of silencing critics ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 elections. Similar actions were taken against Bishop Zachary Kakobe in 2017 for “political sermons“.

The “Societies Act” empowers the minister to deregister groups “without due process”, making courts the only viable check on executive overreach.

   – Strategic Use of Courts: 

     By filing in the High Court, Gwajima’s team seeks to:

     – Expose the ban’s unconstitutionality (Article 19: freedom of worship).

     – Force transparency about the deregistration’s legal basis.

     – Leverage a recent precedent (“Civil Appeal No. 398 of 2020”) affirming religious rights.

⚖️ Key Legal Avenues Pursued by Gwajima’s Church.

💎 Conclusion.

Gwajima’s church prioritized court action due to “procedural violations” (no right to defend), “distrust in the minister’s neutrality”, and the “urgency of police-enforced closures”. Gwajima’s public absence is a “security precaution” amid government pressure and potential retaliation. The case now hinges on whether Tanzania’s judiciary will uphold due process or yield to executive power.

How many people are daily affected by the government ban on Gwajima’s church?

The government ban on Gwajima’s church (officially named “Glory of Christ Tanzania Church” or “Ufufuo na Uzima Ministry”) affects “approximately 70,000 members” across its network daily, with significant disruptions to worship, community activities, and spiritual operations. Here is a detailed breakdown:

📊 Direct Daily Impact.

1. Core Congregation: 

   – The “main church in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam”, hosted “~10,000 members” for regular services, now blocked by police barricades and tape.

   – “Daily prayers, community programs, and administrative functions” are suspended indefinitely, affecting all 70,000 members. 

2. Affiliate Churches: 

   – The church oversees “2,000+ affiliate branches” nationwide. Over “30 have already been forcibly closed” by police, disrupting local worship and services daily. 

3. Physical Blockades: 

   – Armed police maintain a 24/7 security perimeter around the main church, preventing access to the premises, offices, and prayer grounds. 

⚠️ Indirect and Broader Effects.

– Spiritual Practices:

The ban interrupted a 7-day prayer and fasting campaign against abductions, leaving thousands without communal spiritual guidance. 

– Economic Livelihoods:

Church staff (clergy, administrative workers, volunteers) face sudden loss of income and roles.

– Psychological Toll:

 Members report anxiety over safety, especially after police used tear gas and made arrests during protests. 

– Ecumenical Ripple Effect:

Other churches expressing solidarity (e.g., Bishop Kakobe, Bagonza) now operate under heightened fear of similar crackdowns. 

🌍 Context of the Ban.

– Trigger:

Gwajima’s May 24, 2025, press conference and June 1 sermon condemning state-linked abductions. 

– Enforcement:

Immediate police deployment to seal the church, disperse gatherings, and arrest protesters.

– Political Climate:

The ruling party (CCM) framed Gwajima’s actions as inciting “discord,” while President Samia warned against “Gwajimanisation” of the party. 

 💎 Conclusion.

The ban “directly disrupts daily worship and community life for 70,000+ members”, compounded by police enforcement halting all activities.

With Gwajima in hiding and affiliate churches shuttered, the impact extends beyond immediate spiritual needs to socioeconomic and psychological stability. The full daily toll includes lost communal support, economic hardship, and eroded religious freedom.

Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory