Tanzanian priest - and government critic - brutally attacked

A salient Tanzanian Catholic clergyman and authorities professional has been violently attacked amid rising governmental tensions up of elections owed successful October.

Fr Charles Kitima, who had attended an all-day spiritual meeting, was ambushed by 2 radical astatine nighttime successful a canteen restroom adjacent his residence successful Dar es Salaam.

According to the police, helium was deed connected the caput with a blunt entity and was aboriginal admitted to hospital, wherever helium is successful a unchangeable condition.

Eyewitnesses said Fr Kitima had been seen talking to respective radical earlier the attack, and was aboriginal recovered bleeding and calling for help, moments aft individuals were seen fleeing the scene.

The constabulary accidental they person detained a suspect, portion investigations continue.

The onslaught connected Fr Kitima, who is the secretary-general of the Catholic bishops' organisation, Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), has been wide condemned.

Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, who visited the clergyman successful hospital, said it had been "a brutal onslaught with the intent to instrumentality his life".

Posting connected X, Mwabukusi said Fr Kitima had a connection for Tanzanians that "we should not beryllium acrophobic to wage the terms for lasting up for justness and fulfilling our duties to the country".

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Political hostility is expanding successful Tanzania up of the wide elections, with rights groups raising concerns implicit shrinking civic space, accountability, and justice.

Opposition Chadema enactment vice-chairman John Heche said the incidental was atrocious "news for the country".

Lobby radical Legal and Human Rights Centre besides condemned the "heinous attack" that portrayed a "bad image" for the country.

Fr Kitima has often criticised authorities policies and is wide known successful Tanzania for his bold stance connected antiauthoritarian reforms and quality rights.

The assault, which has alarmed religion leaders and the civilian society, comes days aft the Catholic Church called for the authorities to heed calls for electoral betterment - a cardinal absorption demand.

Leaders of Christian churches, whose followers marque up 60% of the population, person go progressively outspoken connected justness and governance issues.

But their disapproval has not been received good by immoderate supporters of the ruling party, with immoderate elder figures asking spiritual leaders to enactment retired of politics.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan past play warned the absorption that "no-one is supra the law".

"We indispensable not let this predetermination to beryllium a origin for conflict," she added.

She besides sought to downplay fears of rigging by vowing that the authorities would "do everything successful its powerfulness to guarantee that the predetermination is escaped and fair".

Since past twelvemonth determination has been a question of attacks and abductions targeting authorities critics. Senior absorption figures person besides been arrested, including Chadema person Tundu Lissu, who has been charged with treason.

But attacks of this benignant connected religion leaders are uncommon.

Police person said the motive for Fr Kitima's onslaught is not yet known, with ongoing investigations looking to place different suspects.

The authorities has not commented connected the attack.

But Stephen Wasira, vice-chairman of the ruling CCM party, condemned it and sent a connection of sympathy to the priest.