PENGO: BE WARY OF SELF-SEEKING LEADERS

Polycarp Cardinal Pengo

BY JAMES KANDOYA

The Archbishop of the Dar es Salaam Diocese of the Catholic Church, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, has cautioned Tanzanians against electing irresponsible leaders who care only about realising their dreams instead of those of their motherland. 

 

He said people’s power can bring about changes in society if citizens unite and shut out reckless leaders, which could be done during the General Election scheduled for late next year.

 

Cardinal Pengo made the remarks in an interview at the weekend shortly after a Thanksgiving mass to celebrate his 70th birthday, held at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Dar es Salaam.

 

“You shouldn’t be deceived into believing that it is the wealthy who will bring you development… We need a leader who can transform and add meaning to the lives of poor citizens,” he said.

 

Elaborating, he said overambitious and self-seeking leaders are the major factor behind the ever widening gap between the rich and poor “since greedy leaders always think of themselves and are the main source for differences in incomes amongst citizens”.

 

Pengo noted that Tanzanians need leaders whose priorities are to solve the people’s most pressing problems, adding that the desire of ordinary citizens is to see their lives changing for the better through availability of better social services and other basic needs.

“Billionaires cannot change the lives of the poor,” he said, citing examples of countries where people’s power was applied and irresponsible leaders were denied leadership positions and development was achieved.

 

“I encourage our people to be doubly courageous, especially when they want to bring about changes, since it is not an easy task and entails a lot of daunting challenges,” he said, adding that apart from income inequality, the country is facing challenges of corruption and degeneration in ethical conduct and practice among public servants.

 

Dar es Salaam Auxiliary Bishop Titus Mdoe meanwhile urged the people to borrow a leaf from Polycarp Cardinal Pengo by working for the promotion and consolidation of peace and unity in the country.

 

He said the cardinal has always been a “front-liner” in preaching unity and condemning people who attempt to instigate chaos within the society.

 

Bishop Mdoe explained that in Cardinal Pengo has all along worked for positive changes in various fields, including education and health.

 

The Chairman of the Union of Dar es Salaam Reverends, Novatus Mbaula, said the Thanksgiving mass was earlier planned for August 5 but was postponed to December 27 because Cardinal Pengo was in poor health.

 

He said the commemorative event is jointly organised by priests in all archdioceses across the country and was meant to congratulate the Archbishop “for counting 70 years”.

 

Delivering messages during Christmas masses, religious leaders urged President Jakaya Kikwete to be bolder and ensure that measures were taken against egocentric government officials who betray the people by violating the leadership code of ethical conducts.

 

Bishop Michael Hafidh of the Anglican Church (Zanzibar Diocese) described the conduct of government officials engaging in corruption and other unethical or criminal practices as “appalling”. 

 

The Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Bishop Dr Alex Malasusa, meanwhile called upon all corrupt individuals in the country to “come forward and repent before Almighty God for their sins instead of defending themselves and seeking understanding from members of the public”.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN