Popular Tanzanian preacher and politician Bishop Josephat Gwajima of the Glory of Christ Church – Ufufuo wa Uzima has found himself in the eye of a political storm after publicly condemning the wave of abductions and disappearances gripping the country.
His bold stance has ignited a sharp standoff with President Samia Suluhu’s government, which is increasingly being accused of cracking down on opposition figures, including the outspoken Tundu Lissu.
On Monday night, tension escalated dramatically when police surrounded Gwajima’s Dar es Salaam-based church, as dozens of worshippers had gathered in a show of solidarity.
“It is 11:15 at night and these bishops have joined me after police came and surrounded the church and they came to know what is happening,” Bishop Gwajima told followers in a late-night video.
President Samia Suluhu sent police officers last night to arrest the renowned and outspoken Tanzanian bishop, Gwajima, outside his church! pic.twitter.com/2wDMPzaMlZ
— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) June 3, 2025
“There are three police cars outside the church. We want all the bishops, pastors, and congregants to know that we are surrounded by the police.”
Just hours later, a large crowd of supporters swelled around the church, prompting police to fire tear gas in an attempt to disperse them.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as congregants scrambled for safety under a haze of smoke.
Then, in a swift and controversial move, the Tanzanian government announced the deregistration of Gwajima’s church. The decision was met with fierce criticism from fellow clergy and civil society groups, many of whom see it as a blatant act of political repression.
Government officials claim the bishop’s sermons had crossed a dangerous line.
Emmanuel Kihampa, the Registrar of Civil Societies, accused the church of violating the Societies Act, Chapter 337, by delivering politically charged messages aimed at “turning the public against the government.” Authorities further argued that Gwajima’s rhetoric could “endanger peace and national stability.”
Meanwhile, the Mwananchi newspaper reported that the church had been cordoned off; standard procedure when an area is treated as a potential crime scene, either to preserve evidence or limit public access.
As images and videos from the night went viral, public outcry surged online. Activist Maria Sarungi took to X (formerly Twitter) to raise the alarm:
“We fear for the loss of life of innocent people as police have started beating mercilessly and setting police dogs on citizens who had surrounded Bishop Gwajima’s church.”