Tanzania's Catholic Church Forbids Clergy from Political Campaigning Ahead of 2025 Elections

Catholic Church Issues Strict Directive on Political Involvement

The Catholic Church in Tanzania has officially forbidden its clergy from participating in political campaigning, a move announced just weeks before the country's general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025. The directive, issued by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), explicitly prohibits priests, nuns, and seminarians from engaging in any form of political campaigning, labeling such involvement as a 'great sin' and a 'defilement of the Church'.

Archbishop Wolfgang Pisa, President of the TEC, delivered the emphatic message during a mass held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, to commemorate the centenary of the Kipalapala Major Seminary in Tabora. He stated, 'It is forbidden for a priest, it is forbidden for a nun, it is forbidden for you seminarians, to be seen in political campaigns.' The Archbishop further clarified that 'Church law clearly prohibits priests and nuns from participating in political campaigns or showing support for any political party.'

Specific Prohibitions and Context

The ban extends beyond direct campaigning to include any visible association with political parties. Clergy are now forbidden from:

• Being seen at political rallies or campaigns.
• Wearing political attire, such as t-shirts or caps, of any political party.
• Displaying any symbols or signs indicative of support for a particular political party.

This strong admonition from the Church leadership follows an incident where several Catholic nuns were observed at a campaign rally for President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the Mtwara region, publicly endorsing her re-election bid. This event seemingly prompted the TEC to reiterate and enforce its long-standing regulations regarding clergy neutrality in political matters.

Electoral Landscape in Tanzania

The directive comes at a critical juncture as Tanzania prepares for its 2025 general elections, which will include presidential, parliamentary, and local government polls. The political climate leading up to these elections has been characterized by concerns over political polarization and the exclusion of major opposition candidates. Critics have described the upcoming multiparty election as 'questionable,' with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party facing minimal electoral competition due to the systematic exclusion of significant opposition figures and parties.

The Catholic Church, with its substantial influence among Tanzania's approximately 18 million Catholics, who constitute roughly 30% of the population, plays a significant role in the nation's social and moral discourse. The TEC's stance aims to safeguard the Church's neutrality and prevent its defilement by partisan politics, ensuring its focus remains on spiritual and pastoral duties rather than electoral outcomes.