INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Tanzanian Churches Rally Behind Bishop Josephat Gwajima Amid Government Crackdown
📍 Prepared by Ujasusi Blog Intelligence Desk
📌 Category: Open Source Intelligence
📆 Date: June 5, 2025 ⏱️0400 BST
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Tanzanian government’s decision to deregister the Ufufuo na Uzima Church, led by influential Pentecostal leader and Member of Parliament Bishop Josephat Gwajima, has triggered an unprecedented show of unity among Christian leaders across denominations. In the days following Gwajima’s explosive May 24, 2025 press conference—where he condemned ongoing abductions and alleged state-linked disappearances—more than 30 of his churches have been shut down by heavily armed police.
Senior church figures, including Bishop Zachariah Kakobe and Bishop Benson Bagonza, have publicly denounced the government’s action. The crackdown is being widely interpreted as a broader assault on religious freedom, with undertones of religious discrimination given the Christian character of the affected institutions.
This intelligence briefing provides a detailed situation update, evaluates risks to religious freedom and national stability, and outlines potential scenarios stemming from this rapidly evolving crisis.