Today s Martyrs Resources for understanding current Christian witness and martyrdom Tanzania 'Ally' (Christian leader, reported on May 6, 2015 that three Christian pastors were summoned to the Mafia Island local government and ordered to begin the permanent closure of their churches due to their opposition to the new constitution and its creation of Islamic courts, added that the national government is using local governments so as to avoid public complicity in the closures; said on December 17, 2015 of the government's campaign to close Non-Governmental Organizations: Our main worry is that most of the local churches and mission-based organizations are registered as NGOs and last year more than 37 were closed on this account. They pay their fees, they report their work, but they were closed for breaking the [prohibition] of interfering with other faith affairs - converting a Muslim, preaching to a Muslim, or even [allowing] a convert [from Islam] to run and hide in their homes ) Bishop Almachius Vicent Rweyongeza (appealed for calm and requested that people cooperate with police following the May 2, 2016 church arson attack in Kagera area) Fr Ambrose Mkend (shot and seriously wounded in the arm and chest while walking home from church on December 25, 2012 in Zanzibar City; condition improving as of January 3, 2013 in Dar Es Salaam) Pastor Amos Lukanula (as of June 22, 2015 has been forced to pay US$100 in court costs each month to defend his church's land ownership in Chukwani, Zanzibar, said The Muslims are waiting for the time when we shall fail to attend the court hearing, implying losing the case and subsequently having to pay a substantial amount of money ; a court ruled on July 20, 2017 that the church construction could not continue Our church members have persistently worked alongside with me and are frustrated and weary, but we are always hopeful that God will still intervene. We cannot allow the Muslims to put up a mosque in place of the church ) Fr Anastasius Nsherenguzi (aged 43, died on April 7, 2012 after being hit with a large rock on April 6, 2012 while trying to persuade several young men to end their street altercation near Bushangaro) Annah Philippo Barihuta (widow of Harun Gikaro Wanzo, who sold the land in Chukwani, Zanzibar to Pastor Amos Lukanula s church, mother of seven, impoverished, as of June 22, 2015 has had to bear some of the legal costs for defending her husband's prior ownership of the land; as of July 20, 2017 still resides on a portion of the land, risks eviction if the church loses its case) Asti Simon (aged 4, daughter of Pastor Prince and Teresia Simon, witnessed her parents' beating) Annette (Bukoba Pastors Fellowship secretary, said on September 30, 2015 Since 2013 we have
had over 13 churches torched here in Kagera and no one has been held accountable. This is not acceptable ) Bishop Augustine Shao (churches in Zanzibar attacked by a mob on or before November 12, 2012, threatened with beheading; stated on February 22, 2013 in Zanzibar that a text message was sent to clergy following the murder of Fr Evarist Mushi which stated We thank our young men, trained in Somalia, for killing an infidel. Many more will die. We will burn homes and churches. We have not finished: at Easter, be prepared for disaster. Muslim Renewal ; attended the February 22, 2013 funeral Mass of Fr Evarist Mushi in Zanzibar) Bishop Bernadin Francis Mfumbusa (aged 51, expressed concern on February 8, 2014 in Kondoa over the importation of radical Islamists) Cecian Peter (killed by 50 radical Muslims in Morogoro on June 27, 2015 after seen carrying a Bible) Pastor Charles Madama (church building in Zanzibar Town demolished on January 7, 2018 by a bulldozer sent by the local government, personal items including musical instruments destroyed, said It came to us as a big surprise when the bulldozer pulled down the church building without prior notice, and we lost everything. This is a calculated move here in Zanzibar of total disregard and disrespect to Christianity. It has been extremely difficult for us as a church to assemble for worship...we lack money to appeal our case in court. But we know that church cases in Zanzibar have been thrown out, and we are very sure that even if we go to court, it will be dragged for many years, and in the end we might not get justice...at the moment it a very difficult time for the church leadership in keeping the church members intact. We do request prays at this trying moment, so that God may give us a place to worship. We are like orphaned children ) Sr Clecensia Kapuli (aged 50, shot dead in her automobile in Dar es Salaam on June 23, 2014 after withdrawing money from a bank to pay school renovators, driver injured, a second nun escaped unharmed) Fr Cosmas Shayo (said in Zanzibar on March 13, 2014 after Islamists circulated leaflets calling Christians 'infidels' and promising a 'big funeral' for them "The problem is the group is mixing calls for autonomy with religion. They issues threat to Christians. They have attacked churches and clergy. We become more afraid when they circulate threatening leaflets ) Pastor Crodward Edwar (led a press conference concerning the October 9, 2014 murder of Dioniz Ng'wandu) Pastor Damson Maonesho (aged 53, husband, father of nine, home in Kidimuni destroyed in an August 13, 2016 arson attack by Muslims, said My wife had visited a close neighbor. Usually in the afternoon the baby is asleep. I think one of the targets was the small baby, has taken refuge in an 882 square foot shelter, said Sleeping on the cemented floor, which is very cold at night, made our 9-month-old child catch pneumonia. We are appealing for friends to settle us in a rented house, which will require about $500 dollars, because I have a large family ) Bishop Daniel Kwilemba (threatened with death on January 11, 2014 by Muslims who invaded and destroyed the Free Pentecostal Church in Kisauni village, Zanzibar) Pastor Daudi Nzumbi (home in Geita attacked by a large mob on May 31, 2013 which was driven off by his large dogs, police refused to help)
Pastor Dickson (reported on June 4, 2013 from Zanzibar "[The] attack at my church occurred on May 26, 2012. Radical Muslims, who are growing in number in Tanzania, set fire to my church building. They set fire to all of the chairs, musical equipment and our PA system. They even [burned] our Bibles and set my car on fire...there have been other incidents. A young boy of about 22 years was jailed when he was falsely accused of burning a Quran.") Dioniz Ng'wandu (aged 31, secondary school teacher, husband of Faith, father of Michael and John, killed in a machete attack in his Bukoba church on October 9, 2014 following a prayer service) Bishop Ediger (said in Bukoba that opposition to a bill establishing Islamic courts resulted in seven churches destroyed by arson on April 14, 2015, one pastor killed, and a youth minister seriously injured) Bishop Eliabu Sentozi (said that the October 22, 2013 machete attack on Elias Lunyamila Meshack, Elias Msakuzi, and Tumsifu Pungu in the Pasiansi area, Ilemela district, Mwanza province, was not motivated by robbery) Elias Lunyamila Meshack (aged 35, church youth leader, killed in a machete attack on October 22, 2013 in the Pasiansi area, Ilemela district, Mwanza province) Elias Msakuzi (wounded in the head in a machete attack on October 22, 2013 in the Pasiansi area, Ilemela district, Mwanza province, released from the hospital) Rev Emmanuel Masoud (church in Zanzibar attacked by a mob on or before November 12, 2012, threatened with beheading) Rev Emmanuel Narsis (Buyekera Pentacostal church in Bukoba region destroyed by arson on September 23, 2015) Emmanuel Yohana (husband of Katherine Emmanuel, arrested in Zanzibar on June 16, 2017 for cooking in a private home during Ramadan; released on June 19, 2017) Eva Abdullah (aged 17, converted to Christianity at age 14, parents disowned her, falsely accused of Quran desecration in Bagamoyo after she refused to renounce her faith, tried and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment before August 18, 2012) Fr Evarist Mushi (aged 55, shot dead on February 17, 2013 in Zanzibar while exiting his car in front of the cathedral) Bishop Fabian Obeid (on November 12, 2012 described riots that destroyed five Zanzibar churches; said on or before March 3, 2014 on Zanzibar We urged the government to take serious measures at the series of bomb attacks targeting churches...in the past few days, because worse things will follow soon if nothing is done swiftly") Faith Ng'wandu (widow of Dioniz Ng'wandu, mother of Michael and John) Pastor Faustine Joseph (led the prayer service prior to the October 9, 2014 attack that killed Dioniz Ng'wandu) Festus Simon (aged 2, son of Pastor Prince and Teresia Simon, witnessed his parents' beating) Fr Fortunatus Bijura (said of the May 2, 2016 arson attack in Kagera area "Those who think that destroying our church means we won t pray, they are wrong...we have a big tree near the church and will continue meeting there for prayers") Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla (Vatican ambassador to Tanzania, present when an
explosive device was thrown into the May 5, 2013 inaugural Mass at the new St Joseph church in Arusha, uninjured, visited the injured in hospital) Bishop Gwajima (brother of Pastor Samson Gwajima, reported on April 15, 2015 to have been arrested and denied bail along with 15 pastors for opposing a bill establishing Islamic courts) Rev Innocent Mzinduki (church destroyed by arson in early 2013) Jackie Mrina (tried to put out the fire at the church in Kagera area on May 2, 2016) James Gabriel (aged 16, died on the way to the hospital after an explosive device was thrown into the May 5, 2013 inaugural Mass at the new St Joseph church in Arusha, two others killed and more than 60 injured including two 12 year olds) John Ng'wandu (aged 2, son of Dioniz and Faith Ng'wandu) Archbishop Josaphat Louis Lebulu (present when an explosive device was thrown into the May 5, 2013 inaugural Mass at the new St Joseph church in Arusha, uninjured, visited the injured in hospital) Fr Joseph Amselmo Mwangamba (aged 60, burned with acid on his face, chest, and arms on September 13, 2013 in Zanzibar; as of September 16, 2013 has been transferred to the National Hospital in Dar es Salaam for more advanced treatment) Bishop Dr Jothan Mwakimage (said on November 29, 2013 that leaders of several churches will withdraw from the government sponsored peace talks because while the talks proceed churches in Korogwe and Kalalani villages, Tanga district are still burning) Pastor Joyce (church destroyed by arson in July 2013) Juma (convert from Islam, missing after returning home to Mafia Island in mid-february 2015 to retrieve clothes and academic certificates) Rev Kabonaki (Evangelical Assemblies of God church in Kibeta, Bukoba region destroyed by arson on September 23, 2015) Katherine Emmanuel (wife of Emmanuel Yohana, arrested in Zanzibar on June 16, 2017 for cooking in a private home during Ramadan; released on June 19, 2017) Khadija (arrested in Zanzibar on June 16, 2017 for cooking in a private home during Ramadan; released on June 19, 2017) Khamis Bakar Sheikh (convert from Islam, stabbed by his three brothers on September 18, 2015 in Kiwengwa, Zanzibar for converting, hospitalized) Pastor Lucian Mgaywa (on November 12, 2012 described the flight of Christian pastors from the mob in Zanzibar; described the bombings and attempted bombings of several Zanzibar churches which happened on or before March 3, 2014) Marry Meshack (wife of Elias Lunyamila Meshack) Pastor Mathayo Kachili (beheaded during a February 14, 2013 riot caused by Muslims trying to force the closure of Christian owned butcher shops in Buseresere town, Geita region, several others in critical condition)
"Matthew Limo" (alias, on May 21, 2014 described being harassed by Muslim neighbors in Zanzibar while walking to church on Sunday, said of his children At home we try to encourage and to teach them a love for Christ and the Church. But we are insecure about what others do. We often hear stories about Muslims trying to convert children. Sadly enough we need to tell our children to be careful in building friendships with Muslim children ) Michael Ng'wandu (aged 4, son of Dioniz and Faith Ng'wandu) Patricia Joackim (aged 9, killed when an explosive device was thrown into the May 5, 2013 inaugural Mass at the new St Joseph church in Arusha, two others killed and more than 60 injured including two 12 year olds) Paulina Nkuba (aged 67, said of the May 2, 2016 arson attack on her in Kagera area "I live near the church. While I was sleeping, [my grandson], studying at the Kimiza Primary School, told me that the church was on fire. I went to the church and started to put water on the fire, but I could not manage to put it out") Peter (church leader, said that Christian opposition to a bill establishing Islamic courts resulted in three gunmen attacking a church in Mkuranga, Pwani region on April 5, 2015, police injured, said "There is a lot of tension now between Christians and Muslims and we fear civil war might erupt ; reported on April 21, 2015 that the Home Minister has threatened to de-register all churches that have opposed the bill establishing Sharia [Islamic] courts throughout the country) Pastor Philemon (husband, father of five aged 6 to 16, as of June 22, 2015 has been driven into hiding on Zanzibar by Muslims who have taken over his rented hall, parish has declined to 25 members, is supporting several converts from Islam) Cardinal Polycarp Pengo (attended the February 22, 2013 funeral Mass of Fr Evarist Mushi in Zanzibar) Pastor Prince Simon (husband of Teresia, father of Asti and Festus, Zanzibar home invaded by six men in late September 2014 who said they did not want Christians in the city, beaten when he refused to leave, latter dropped charges against his attackers) Prisca (aged 9 months, child of Marry and Elias Lunyamila Meshack) Prosper (aged 9, child of Marry and Elias Lunyamila Meshack) Regina Loning o Kuresoi (killed when an explosive device was thrown into the May 5, 2013 inaugural Mass at the new St Joseph church in Arusha, two others killed and more than 60 injured including two 12 year olds) Rimista (wife of Eliyas, mother of two, dentist, Syrian refugee, reported on February 4, 2015 to have been beaten and scarred by Turkish airport police, bankrupt, residing in a UN refugee camp in Dar es Salaam with her three year old son, both malnourished, ill with a chest infection, said "If I must die, I rather die in my country") Pastor Robert Ngai (home in Geita invaded by a large group of radical Muslims on June 2, 2013, arms and hands seriously cut while protecting his head from machete blows, hospitalized, urged to be rushed to a larger hospital for better treatment) Sr Rohini Pradhan CSST (aged 44, missionary, Indian citizen, killed in a vehicular road accident on November 27, 2018) Rogart Mollel (described the May 5, 2014 bombing of a Mwanza church rest house that critically
injured a church employee in the legs and face) Sabas Kafuba (church chairman, said the May 2, 2016 arson attack on his church in Kagera area destroyed furniture, documents, books, and generators) Pastor Samson Gwajima (brother of Bishop Gwajima, head slashed with a sword or machete during a May 15, 2015 home invasion, had a 2 inch deep wound, had received death threats from the local mosque, still unconscious as of May 19, 2015) Bishop Shayo see Bishop Augustine Shao Bishop Tarsisius Ngalalekumtwa (president of the Bishops Conference of Tanzania, called for people to work and pray for peace in his homily at the February 22, 2013 funeral Mass of Fr Evarist Mushi in Zanzibar; denounced violent anti-christian propaganda by extremist Muslim leaders during the May 22, 2013 funeral of the three bomb victims killed in the May 5 2013 attack on St Joseph church in Arusha) Temistores (aged 25, seriously injured in his foot in an October 9, 2014 machete attack in his church following a prayer service, hospitalized) Teresia Simon (wife of Pastor Prince Simon, mother of Asti and Festus, Zanzibar home invaded by six men in late September 2014 who said they did not want Christians in the city, beaten when she refused to leave, latter dropped charges against her attackers) Rev Thomas Assenga (said in Zanzibar on March 13, 2014 after Islamists circulated leaflets calling Christians 'infidels' and promising a 'big funeral' for them We fear anything can happen anytime. Things are not easy here ) Tumsifu Pungu (wounded in a machete attack on October 22, 2013 in the Pasiansi area, Ilemela district, Mwanza province, in the hospital in critical condition) Rev Vedasto Athanas (Living Waters church in Bukoba region destroyed by arson on September 23, 2015, said "What is worrying us is that the burning of the three churches happened within a span of two hours. What is even more worrying is that we have been receiving threats from Muslim extremists that they want churches reduced in this area") William Saidi (beaten on January 11, 2014 by Muslims who invaded and destroyed the Free Pentecostal Church in Kisauni village, Zanzibar) Pastor Yahana Madai (church service in Zanzibar disrupted by a 9 year old Muslim girl on November 10, 2014; arrested on November 11, 2014 after the girl's father alleged that he had touched her breast and removed her veil when he stopped her disruptions the previous night, released the next day, case closed a few days later due to lack of evidence; charges refiled in early March 2017; charges dismissed on April 6, 2017, rearrested on unspecified charges while leaving the courthouse; judge failed to attend an October 16, 2017 hearing on the molestation charges, said The court is dragging this case out, which is really becoming costly and hurting the church. Why should a hearing be called off at the last minute? I am hurt by the alleged assault labeled against me, which is stressing my family members as well as the church. Some of my members have left the church due to bad soil that the Muslims have smeared on me )