The Internet, the new Radio

For some years now the "Web" has posed such a challenge to the Church and her mission. In the past the Chrch was viewed by the majority as the only authority to questiones like "who is God?", "what is love?", or "who is Jesus?" Indeed she still is and will be! But lately these questions have been addressed to the web pages like "google, yahoo, ask etc. In 2007 via google search engine millions of surfers were said to ask the above question, of which the question " who is God?" came first. The fact is the internet now receives many visitors, about 1.7 bilion people around the world visit the web according to a research done recently by CNR Institute of Informatics and Telematics. Pages returned by Googles seem to have doubled ever since. This makes the web replace the native source of information used for many years - the Radio.  http://www.registro.it/.

But in this sea of information, says Domenico Lorenzo, director of the CNR Institute of Informatics and Telematics, even the voice of the Catholic Church has established itself with authority as a way to meet the challenge of the time, but more as a new forum of evangelisation - the web has become for the Church the new "aeropagus". The Church faces this challenge attentive to the rigor of the contents which may be religious, philosophical, rambling or blasphemous and to the dynamics of the means of communication. The Church has learnt how to look to the internet as the ideal way - global and interactive - of spreading the Good News to every corner of the World.  http://www.registro.it/.

For many years the evangelical mission has been entrusted to the radio, which has managed to spread the voice of the Church in every corner of the World. Vatican Radio came into operation by 1931, then followed institutional and diocesan radios all over the World. The radio has been an instrument of free communication, capable of bringing the Word of God even to the more remote areas of the globe environmentally as well as politically. Surprisingly, the same function have taken over by internet with no barriers. The internet effortless overcomes the boundaries of space, and time and adds the gift of interactivity, and enables the church not only to talk but to listen and interpret the needs of the faithful. The Pope, Benedict the XVI in the Apostolic Exhortation "Africae Munus" urges the Church in Africa to be familiar with the new World of information technology and communication. The faithful should look to the media as an area to evangelise as well as a powerful tool for evangelisation. Africae Munus, 142-146

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere saint at once: But who is Nyerere?

Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, is a former president of the United Republic of Tanzania. To most Tanzanians he is the Father of the nation. He was born in 1922 in Butiama village, on the shores of Lake Victoria. At the age of 12 he attended primary school in Musoma, secondary school at Tabora boys in Tabora, and then joined Makerere University attaining a diploma in education. He taught for three years in Tabora then joined Edinburgh university in England from 1949 – 1952 for Master of Arts degree. On his return to Tanganyika he was posted at Pugu high school as a teacher, a profession he resigned in 1955 and retired to politics.

In 1954 he founded his political party TANU by uniting other smaller political groups tribal chiefs as a strategy to independence. In 1955 he was invited to give a speech at the commission of UNO, which made him even more popular politically. He became the first prime minister of the independent Tanganyika in 1961 and 1962 became president of the Republic of Tanganyika. Playing an important role Zanzibar became independent in 1963 and on 26^th April, 1964 the two countries under TANU and ASP parties united to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere still became the first president of the newly born united republic. As a president and politician pursued to create African socialism based on self reliance and equity which led to the Arusha declaration in 1967, a declaration that stood out to propagate “Ujamaa na Kujitegemea” as a political policy for the young republic, then being backed by Maoism in China. Colonial legacy, oil crisis of 1970’s, lack of investiment from outside, fall in price of agricultural products like sisal in the world market and the wounds of the war with Iddi Amin in 1978/79 led to the fall of Ujamaa na Kujitegemea in Tanzania. The expected became pipe dreams for Nyerere. However he took responsibility and resigned from politics in 1985. In his welcome address, passing the baton to his successor Ali Hassan Mwinyi, said bluntly: "I have failed. Let's face it. "

Mwalimu Nyerere died as a pensioner and a retired president on 14^th October, 1999. Few years later, in fact, at Butiama, where he was born, began the diocesan phase of the beatification of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the father of Tanzania. Already in 21 January 2006 the Cardinal  Polycarp Pengo , Archbishop of Dar es Salaam , began the process of canonization of Nyerere. However the legitimate decision on the Catholic side to canonise him, created many concerns in the Tanzanian people of different religions to the impression that the Catholic Church wanted to monopolize the figure of "Father of the Fatherland." This is also evidenced in the will of Nyerere to be buried in the parish church of Butiama, which could not be possible. He is buried in a mausoleum, built near his house to allow all citizens, whatever their religion may be, to pay homage without the discomfort of being in a place of worship alien to their faith convictions.

The process will be long and may even end in a stalemate. This does not mean however that it is impossible, but rather a more unique than rare. Nyerere was known to be a good Catholic who apart from attending mass every day, he fought hard for the poor. He was a man of integrity and honest. He is an outstanding model among politicians to resign from politics in peace, an example of humility to acknowledge his mistakes. He lived a simple life, it is said that he never lived in a presidential palace, he wore simple clothes: with short sleeves. Nyerere had the courage to take responsibility and take the consequences, decided in 1985 to leave the presidency and retire to (partial) private life.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TANZANIA CELEBRATES 50 ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

Early this week, the Episcopal Conference in Tanzania held a thanksgiving Mass for the 50^th Anniversary of national independence. The Holy Mass was presided by the chairman of the Episcopal Conference Right Reverend Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Ruwaich at St. Joseph’s cathedral in Dar es salaam. It was attended by His Eminence Cardinal Pengo, 15 Bishops, 30 priests as well as the faithful. The thanksgiving mass had as an intention to pray for the country’s unity, solidarity, justice and peace in the years ahead. It was a moment for the church in Tanzania to reflect and evaluate the 50 years of independence; where they came from, where they are and where they are likely to end to, if the present political and economic situation is not well considered.

Commenting on the 50 years of independence, the chairman of the Episcopal Conference related on  the present political and economic condition in the country which is characterised by conflicts among political parties, greed, embezzlement of national resources, and corruption which invoke resentment and chaos to the masses. The archbishop Ruwaich pointed out that the situation has led to creation of classes in the country: the rich go on piling riches on themselves at the expense of the poor, who are the majority. It is a pity that, today in Tanzania, a country known for peace and harmony, albinos have become a source of richness for the rich minority. This exposes the lost sense of direction, religion, humanity and morals among Tanzanians. For him there is no future for Tanzanians without the sense of God, justice, morals and equity for all - true democracy!

Along side the 50^th anniversary for national independence, the Church in Tanzania is still vigilant in prayer for the beatification of the servant of God Mwl. J. K. Nyerere, the father and founder of the nation. One of the prerequisite to beatification is the assent of the society he belongs to. But the political and economic condition in the country reveals to the contrary. The sense of justice and equity; honest and trust, unity and solidarity (brotherhood – Ujamaa) promulgated by the Father of the nation Mwl. Julius Nyerere for 25 years of his leadership is long forgotten and a darkening past. Political and religious conflicts, the ever widening gap between the haves and the have not, the critical life of the majority of Tanzanians who are economically frustrated prove it difficult for a country seeking for the beatification of her son and founder. But for a house to stand, there must be a strong foundation!

50 ANNIVERSARY OF TANZANIA

Tanzania celebrates her 50th anniversary of her political independence this year. She became independent on the 9^th December 1961 under Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere as the first president. In 1962 she became a republic and in 1964 she united with Zanzibar to become the United Republic of Tanzania under one party system. However in 1992 she opted for multi party democracy till today. Tanzania stands out as a stable country in a region that has witnessed some of the vicious civil conflicts in Africa. Tanzania is known for her snow capped mountain Kilimanjaro, one of the highest free standing mountains in the world towering above Africa at 5895m above the sea. Tanzania possesses many natural resources like minerals (gold, diamonds, bronze, Tanzanite etc), beautiful landscapes for agriculture, three major lakes: lake Victoria, lake Tanganyika and lake Nyasa  and national parks like the Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania which is home to the largest memo migration anywhere.

Tanzania is internationally known for having a government that respects the rule of law, human rights and established democracy. Tanzanians have freedom of worship and express themselves and the media is totally free. Much of Tanzania’s population is engaged in agriculture producing food and cash crops like maize, beans, rice, potatoes, cassava and wheat; cash nuts, coffee, sisal, cotton, and tea. Agriculture takes about 75 % of the entire population followed by commercial activities, tourism, fishing and mining. Tanzania is East Africa second largest economy but still one of the world’s poorest countries with low income, low life expectancy, and low standard of living for her citizens and undeveloped infrastructures.

The history of Tanzania: its achievements and difficulties can be traced back to Mwalimu Nyerere, the father and first president who in the first place ruled the country for 25 years and fought for its independence. Nyerere is responsible for laying the first stones to success of the nation, establishment of democracy, peace, justice and stability. He is remembered for his socialist policy of “Ujamaa or brotherhood” which forced many Tanzanians into communal villages where food, land and income were shared. Nyerere was greatly admired into the continent but his economics were not. However his successors rectified all and opened up Tanzania to true democracy and liberty. Fifty years find Tanzania still standing and in one piece. This makes it all the more true that Nyerere remains a true political figure and model for politicians today. His process to beatification marks him as a person who fought for human values both at the personal level as well as at the social level. It all remains for Tanzania to back this truth especially now when celebrating 50 years of independence and 12 years of his death. He left behind quite a legacy!