Police officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, have cordoned off the premises of the Glory of Christ Church Tanzania (Ufufuo and Uzima), founded by Bishop Josephat Gwajima.
The move came hours after a letter from one of Tanzania’s Ministry of Home Affairs departments informed the Kawe Member of Parliament of the government’s decision to shut the church.
Reports of police officers surrounding the Ufufuo and Uzima building in Ubungo, 12 kilometres from the centre of Dar es Salaam, were shared by Gwajima himself through a video clip which shows him surrounded by several fellow bishops in purple coats and shirts.
Footage later circulated that showed people throwing stones and sounds urging believers to go to church amid sounds believed to be live gunshots.
A letter from the registrar of civil societies, which Gwajima says he has not seen, explained the cancellation of the registration of the Glory of Christ Church, popularly known as Ufufuo na Uzima and therefore required to immediately cease all activities for the offences of giving politically oriented sermons and alienating the government and the people.
In a letter dated June 2, 2025, the Registrar of Civil Societies, Mr Emmanuel Kihampa, informed Mr Gwajima that the church had breached Section 17 of the Societies Act (Cap 337), read together with Section 39 of the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act No. 3 of 2019, by delivering sermons that politicised the pulpit and threatened national peace
‘’I hereby inform you that I have revoked the registration of the Glory of Christ Tanzania Church effective June 2, 2025. You are required to cease all church activities immediately,” the letter
The Registrar contended that recent sermons delivered by Bishop Gwajima were intended to create division between the government and the public’’
‘’The letter further notes that the church has the right to appeal the decision through the Ministry of Home Affairs within 21 days.
Bishop Gwajima attracted renewed attention last week after holding a press conference in which he expressed concern over abductions and enforced disappearances, questioning what the response would be if such incidents involved the children of senior government officials
While his remarks were welcomed by some human rights advocates, they drew sharp criticism from sections of the ruling party, with some cadres accusing him of neglecting his duties to his constituents and tarnishing the government’s image
President Samia Suluhu Hassan also appeared to issue a veiled rebuke during a ruling party congress last week, cautioning against what she described as the “Gwajimanisation” of CCM.
‘’If we promote those who are only after personal gain, we end up with people like that. Let us not ‘Gwajimanise’ our party. Leave the Gwajimas outside. There should be no shame or favouritism,” she said
Unfazed, Bishop Gwajima reiterated his commitment to speaking out during a Sunday service on June 1
He announced seven days of national fasting and prayer beginning June 2, calling for divine intervention for justice and guidance for national leaders, including President Hassan.
During the service, the cleric led his congregation in singing the patriotic Tanzania Nakupenda and urged Tanzanians to place national interests above all else
“Tell your neighbour: ‘Tanzania comes first; everything else follows,’” he urged.
He also criticised the silence of some leaders and called for unity among both spiritual and political figures in denouncing the abductions.
