Govt announces crackdown on houses of worship.

The government has announced a crackdown on houses of worship allegedly conducting youth martial arts training in Dar es Salaam Region. 

 

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mbarak Abduwakil admitted to have heard about the religious centres that equip youths with self-defense mechanisms by training them on kungfu, judo and karate.

 

Abduwakil told The Guardian over telephone interview that after investigations the government will arraign all those proven to conduct the trainings since the houses of worship are specifically registered to conduct prayers for the faithful only.

 

“When investigating we shall also go through their constitutions to establish whether they allow them to engage in such activities,” the PS said noting that religious centres are registered bodies that should be monitored by local government authorities at their specific localities.

 

A survey conducted by this paper at different places in the country’s commercial capital had shown that some of the children involved in the martial arts trainings are under 15 years.

 

Among the houses of worship and religious centres were located at Kimara and Bunju ‘B’ in Kinondoni, Mbagala in Temeke and Buguruni in Ilala District.

 

“…Those residing near the alleged houses should tip the police on such incidences for further action,” said Abduwakil.

 

Tanga Regional Police Commander Constantine Massawe

The trainings are said to be conducted during night hours and early in the morning to give room for worshipers during the day time. However, some of the trained youths don’t attend classes as they spend most of their time at the centres.

 

 One of the residents at Bunju ‘B’, Msabila Mwaulanga who resides near the house of worship said the trainings are being conducted at around 21hours. He said, “You could hear noises coming from the house around that time. At first, most of us were worried but we are now used to the situation”.

 

According to him it was dangerous to equip youths with karate and judo trainings because they might decide to apply them even when playing with their fellow children.

 

Contacted, Dar es Salaam Chief Sheikh, Alhadi Mussa Salim urged the government to involve religious leaders in the investigation process. He said their involvement would help to get a clear picture of what is happening in the houses of worship.

 

“I am aware of some the houses of worship conducting uch trainings…the karate and judo techniques are sometimes given to the youths in good faith although I am not sure if all of them do it for a good will,” noted the Dar es Salaam Chief Sheikh.

 

He explained that there are some people who use the opportunities to recruit the youth bad motives. He blamed those who keep the children at the centres all the time as they deny them right to education.

 

Late 2013, police in Tanga arresting 69 suspects and freed dozens of recruits ranging from 4 to 13 years old in a security sweep carried out in the region.

 

The then Tanga Regional Police Commander Constantine Massawe said the youths were arrested while at indoctrination camps in the region.