ELCT

Efforts by Tanzania and Kenya to strengthen security around their boarders following the murderous organized killings by Somali Bandits with high calibre weapons, appear to be completely helpless.

Somali Bandits continue to threaten lives of Maasai people in northern Tanzania and it has been reported that Digodigo village in Loliando in Arusha region was attached on Sunday. Two villagers were killed in the attack and several others were injured. According to the Arusha Regional Police Commander (RPC), Juma Ng'wanang'waka, the incident occurred at Maloni area where the mob attacked a car which was going to the auction.

For more than three years, the Somali Bandits have been launching attacks on villages in northern Tanzania, especially areas cross to the border of Kenya and Tanzania. In last week, the policemen from the two countries signed a pact to intensify the joint security operations along their common boarders.

Tanzanian police officers meet with their counterparts in Nairobi and had signed a security pact. The pact comprised negotiation on how they could work together to crack down on drug traffickers, bandits and other criminals, mobs who drive stolen vehicles across the boarders, among others.

They agreed to strengthen security operations along the south western boarder of the two countries.

Early last month a team of the Field Force Unit (FFU) was dispatched by air and road in Ngorongoro district in Arusha to hunt for several armed Somali Bandits who killed a pastor. The Pastor, Mr. John Majoel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) was shot to death on his back after he allegedly refused to get out of his car, Toyota Land Cruiser. The Pastor was traveling with four European Missionaries to Ngorongoro, one of the famous Tanzania's National Park, on routine pastoral work. According to information reached the media in Dar Es Salaam, after killing the pastor, the armed Somali drove away with the Europeans and abandoned them and the car in the bush some 20 kilometers from the scene area. Authorities in Arusha Region had suggested the deployment of an army unit in Ngorongoro District to curb constant attacks mounted by the Somali Bandits.

Arusha Regional Commissioner Daniel ole Njoolay convened an emergency meeting of the regional defense and security committee where he suggested the option of military intervention against the attacks.

He said the endless attacks by the Somali cattle rustlers since 1998 who have killed at least a dozen people and robbed millions of shillings from residents of the region. Two years ago, Somali Bandits murdered the Ngorongoro District Commanding Officer, SSP Issaya Kong'oa, and about 10 Maasai tribesmen.

About 18 policemen on the mission to hunt notorious Somali Bandits in Northern Tanzania have serious injured in a motor accident along the boarder with Kenya.

The Acting Arusha Regional Police Commander, ACP Wenceslaus Magoha said yesterday here that the accident which occurred at Namanga in Monduli District on Saturday morning, involved the Field Force Officers.

According to him the police were driving in a vehicle, STG 897 to Kimbeine village to hunt Somali bandit following a tip that the trouble makers and notorious killers, Somali Bandits were in the village. He told the press that the conditions of 10 policemen including the Namamga Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Duwan Nyanda, were serious injured and were being hospitalized at the regional Mount Meru Hospital.

'All the policemen were from the Field Force Unit (FFU) and they were on their way to hunt the bandits,' he said. The accident which occurred after the vehicle overturned few kilometers from Namanga after it's driver, Corporal Gabriel failed to control the vehicle, now adds to almost three accidents for the period of 40 days in Tanzania.

At least 18 people have died from these accidents which occurred in various places of the country. Efforts by Tanzania and Kenya to strengthen security around their boarders to arrest Somali Bandits with high calibre weapons, appear to be completely ineffective.

In last month some seven armed Somalis raided Masaai tribesmen at Kitumbaine in Ngorongoro district and stole about Tshs2.8 million. Maasai people were raided as they were on the way to Monduli district for an auction mart.

Being ex-solders with sub machine guns, Somali Bandits fired gun shoots to the air which scarred Maasai people who were in a lorry, and stole apart from money, several properties and other belongings whose amount could not be established. Somali Bandits continue to threaten lives of Maasai people in northern Tanzania.

Digodigo village in Loliando in Arusha region was attached mid April. During that incident two villagers were killed and several others were injured.

For more than three years now, the Somali Bandits have been launching attacks on villages in northern Tanzania, especially areas cross to the border of Kenya and Tanzania. In March a team of the FFU was dispatched by air and road in Ngorongoro District to hunt for several armed Somali Bandits who killed a pastor.

The Pastor, Mr. John Majoel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) was shot to death on his back after he allegedly refused to get out of his car, Toyota Land Cruiser.

The Pastor was traveling with four European Missionaries to Ngorongoro, one of the famous Tanzania's National Park, on routine pastoral work. In April this year, the policemen from Kenya and Tanzania signed a pact to intensify the joint security operations along their common boarders, but their effort is unfruitful.

Residents suggest the deployment of an army unit to curb constant attacks mounted by the Somali Bandits in the area. Suggestions follows the endless attacks which since 1998 have killed at least a dozen people and robbed millions of shillings from residents in the region.

Two years ago, Somali Bandits murdered the Ngorongoro District Commanding Officer, SSP Issaya Kong'oa, and about 10 Maasai tribesmen. Residents in the area want the government to deploy the arm, but the government is still reluctant to implement the idea.

'The killings of residents in Ngorongoro district by armed bandits does not warrant the deployment of the army,' so says the Minister for Home Affairs, Mohammed Seif Khatib. Khatib says the number of Tanzanians killed by Somali Bandits was still small if deaths in other parts of the Tanzania were taken into considerations.

The army will normally be deployed if there was tension between one nation and the other, he says, urging that the police force will continue to provide security along the common boarder with Kenya. The residents say that Police have failed to provide security in the area, as Somalis were armies with advanced fighting tactics.

At last the government has realized a need to use the army and not policemen alone to carry out an exercise to flush out Somali Bandits in north-west Tanzania.

Residents in the area had earlier asked the government to deploy the army, but the later has been reluctant to respond.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Mohammed Seif Khatib had said the killings of residents in Ngorongoro district by armed Somali's bandits does not warrant the deployment of the army. He said the number of Tanzanians killed by Somali Bandits was still small if deaths in other parts of the Tanzania were taken into considerations.

He said the army would normally be deployed if there was tension between one nation and the other. But following the endless attacks, the Minister for Defense has now declared that the army would be used to fight against Somali Bandits to the border of Tanzania and Kenya.

'In fact the army had already conducted an investigation and had gathered enough information on armed banditry in the area,' the Minister said. This week police in Arusha nabbed two hard core bandits of Somali origin suspected to be behind recent attacks in Ngorongoro and Monduli districts.

They are believed to be architects of armed robberies and Killings in the two districts. In the past, the Ministry of Home Affairs criticized an idea to use the army saying the police force would continue to provide security along the common border with Kenya.

However, the residents were against to the idea saying that Police have failed to provide security in the area, as Somalis were armies with advanced fighting tactics. About 18 policemen on the mission to hunt notorious Somali Bandits in Northern Tanzania were recently serious injured in a motor accident along the border with Kenya.

At least 18 people have so far died from these accidents which occurred in various places of the country. Efforts by Tanzania and Kenya to strengthen security around their borders to arrest Somali Bandits with high calibre weapons, appear to be completely ineffective.

Somali Bandits have continued to threaten lives of Maasai people in northern Tanzania. Digodigo village in Loliando in Arusha region was attached mid April this year.

During that incident two villagers were killed and several others were injured. For more than three years now, the Somali Bandits have been launching attacks on villages in northern Tanzania, especially areas cross to the border of Kenya and Tanzania.

Several Killings by Somali Bandits have been recorded in the area. One of them include Pastor John Majoel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) who was shot to death on his back after he allegedly refused to get out of his car, Toyota Land Cruiser.

The Pastor was traveling with four European Missionaries to Ngorongoro, one of the famous Tanzania's National Park, on routine pastoral work. Two years ago, Somali Bandits murdered the Ngorongoro District Commanding Officer, SSP Issaya Kong'oa, and about 10 Maasai tribesmen.

Boyes" description of the Boma 100 years ago is clearly over the top. But ironically, this whitewashed German fort, rehabilitated 1999 with Belgian aid, at the top of Boma road leading to the Clock Tower, is today becoming the starting point for the new face of Arusha. It is used as a centre for art and craft exhibitions, music festivals and drama.

Jan Mannaert, a Belgian former art history teacher, has responded to the town's perpetual transition by establishing "Discover Arusha Tours" (tel: 0744 - 395430). These worthwhile tours begin at the Boma, the first stone building in the town.

Mannaert then takes the visitors to the roof of the New Safari Hotel where on a clear day they can see the town and Mount Meru. Then they are told the history of the Clock Tower. Religious temples and churches, historical buildings, the railway station, the Uhuru (freedom) and Askari (soldier)monuments, and the cemetery are all included.

The Boma houses a Belgian-run caf" called Via Via which serves soft drinks and meals. Inside the Boma there is also a museum. This is sadly empty at present, while staff vehicles parked on the forecourt leave ugly oil stains on the elegant brickwork, destroying the historic atmosphere.

Below the Boma are the town administration offices on the left and the Regional Administration on the right. Before the Clock Tower are airline offices (including Air Tanzania), two other meeting places (Caf" bamboo and Jambo Coffee house), Kase Bookshop, the Tanzanian Tourist Board, tour operators and curio shops.

On the way down Boma Road on the right hand side is the New Safari Hotel and just beyond the Clock Tower to the left is the New Arusha Hotel. Both have deteriorated badly. The New Safari Hotel has been taken over by the Lutheran Church, and the once world famous copper bar is now closed in conformity with temperance. The New Arusha Hotel is badly in need of refurbishment.

To the right of the Clock Tower on Uhuru Road there are women selling Maasai beads on the pavement. Also on Uhuru Road is Lookmanji Curio Shop which, along with The Craft Shop on adjoining Goliondoi Road, is recommended. If you are looking for something authentic from the area, there are Maasai bead ornaments and local batik.

In 1938 Grandfather Ray Ulyate bought the Coffee Tree Inn in Moshi and renamed it 'The Lion Cub'. My parents who were part owners were to manage the hotel during the war. It was sold in the early 50,s and renamed the Ridgeway Hotel. Today it is owned by the Lutheran Church and on the main was exactly as I remembered it. My mother was to do extensive alterations to the property when the family had it including setting up extensive gardens. During the war years it was watering hole for the local troops and those troops in transit from Southern Africa.

We had two African Grey parrots in the bar that were very adapt at picking up soldiers choice profound vernacular.

It is sad to note that on completion of the Stirling Astaldi road between Moshi and Arusha which was laid two to three kilometers south of the old orginal road. The Lion Cub was to suffer from lack of clients which forced its sale closure. It never ever recovered its previous trade especially after the construction and opening of the Livingstone Hotel in Moshi.

Speaking on the marking of the 100-year anniversary of evangelism the Bishop, in his Diocese said celebration of the jubilee would reach its climax on August 15 this year. He said the epoch would be marked by the laying of stones and inauguration of spiritual and social services projects as well as spiritual crusades to be conducted all over the diocese. He mentioned some of those as the laying stone of the proposed Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre and water project at Ketumbeine.

During the celebrations of the centennial, the diocese would invite guests within and outside the country. Some of them are from missions in Germany with partnership with the diocese, and Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Operation Bootstrap and Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry.

"Jubilee is not only marking the 100 years, but is also the time for being grateful to God for all the achievements," insisted Bishop Laiser.

The launching ceremony was attended by Government and church leaders from Pare, Northern, Meru and Mbulu Dioceses of ELCT.

The Diocese in Arusha Region which operates in the administrative regions of Arusha and Manyara has more than 334,000 followers and also works in parts of the Morogoro, Singida and Tanga regions.

Missionary Arno Krause from Leipzig Mission established the cradle of evangelism of the diocese at the mission station in Ilboru in 1904 and thereafter 30,000 burnt bricks were ferried to the present location of the Cathedral in order to build a church. The first follower was christened in 1907 while the first Pastor Lazaro Laizer was ordained in 1934.

The newly opened New Safari Hotel along Boma Road is a welcome addition to modern facilities catering for visitors to Arusha. The hotel, one of the oldest in the country and with a rich history, even in the film making industry, has been refurbished by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania in Tanzania (ELCT) which recently acquired its ownership.

The Arusha Diocese for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) has published a booklet which covers the 100 years of the Diocese since the first Missionaries set foot in the Ilboru area where it was initially established.

Printed by the Moshi Lutheran Printing Press, in Kilimanjaro, the red covered, 68-page book, consists of twenty chapters from Bishop Thomas Laizer's prologue, to the current mission work in the Diocese.

It covers a partly detailed history of the first delegation of Missionaries from Leipzig, Germany who reportedly arrived on the slopes of Mount Meru in 1902, where Hermann Albert Fokken and his building expert, Karl Luckin established the maiden Lutheran Centre in the Waarusha community then having a population of only 8,365.

Compiled by Pastor Dr. Joseph W. Parsalaw, a lecturer with the Tumaini Lutheran University, Reverend, Dr. Naaman Miraa Laizer, Pastor Godwin Ole Lekashu of Ilboru and Reverend Zacharia Ole Matinda, the book was launched during the 100th Anniversary for the ELCT Diocese last Sunday.

The book has been published in Swahili language and the first copy of the launch was sold at Tsh.350,000 athough the retail price of the publication is set at Tsh.1,000 per book.

Prime Minister, Frederick Sumaye was the guest of honour at the ELCT centennial celebration held at Ilboru which was also attended by a number of other distinguished guests.

The first Church in the region was built at Ilboru in1904 whose building still stands to-date and during the last Sunday's event it was consecrated to serve as the first Christian Evangelical museum in the country.

The Lutheran Church in Arusha region became a Synod in 1973 and later made Diocese

in January 1987 at a ceremony whose guest of honour was the retired Tanzania President, Ally Hassan Mwinyi, the event took place at the Enkare-Narok Parish in Ngarenaro area.

Today, the Diocese has 329,350 brethren, among them 143,784 adults and 185,564 children. There are also 82 pastors, 482 evangelists, 15 parish workers and 565 church buildings.

The ELCT Town Cathedral, was the second church to be built in Arusha after the Ilboru one, and they were both constructed under the same plan.