Photo of Fr. Charles Kitima courtesy of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference (TEC)
Maryknoll OGC Joins Statement of Solidarity with Fr. Charles Kitima of Tanzania
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and our partners in CIDSE express solidarity Catholic priest Charles Kitima of Tanzania, who was brutally attacked in Dar es Salaam earlier in the week.
STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH FR. CHARLES KITIMA: DEFENDING VOICES FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
2 May 2025
CIDSE, the international alliance of Catholic organisations for social justice, is deeply shocked to learn of the brutal attack on Tanzanian priest Fr. Charles Kitima on the evening of 30 April 2025. Fr. Kitima was attending a meeting of religious leaders in Dar es Salaam when he was attacked and seriously injured in a restaurant restroom within the premises of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference compound in Kurasini.
As a priest and Secretary General of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference, Fr. Charles Kitima stands for social justice, solidarity, and peace. The attack therefore not only affects him personally but also constitutes an attack to the Catholic Church in Tanzania as a voice for humanity and social justice. In this sense, it is also an assault on the fundamental values of a democratic and just society.
CIDSE and its member organisations, KOO, Maryknoll, Misereor, and Welthaus, which are direct partners of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference, actively oppose political repression and all forms of violence and stand in full solidarity with all those who work for just and peaceful societies. This cowardly attack must not go unanswered. When individuals are brutally silenced for their civic engagement, it is the duty of international civil society to speak out even more strongly in defense of freedom, dignity, and justice. The voice of violence must never drown out the voice of humanity.
We hope and expect that the Tanzanian law enforcement authorities and the government of the United Republic of Tanzania will promptly investigate this attack on a distinguished representative of faith-based actors and civil society and bring those responsible to justice.