DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — A well-known Catholic priest and outspoken government critic was violently assaulted in Tanzania’s commercial capital late Tuesday, heightening concerns over the safety of civic voices as the country prepares for national elections later this year.
Fr. Charles Kitima, a senior figure within the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, was attacked by two unidentified individuals in a canteen restroom near his residence after attending a full day of religious meetings, police said. Witnesses reported seeing the priest speaking with several people earlier in the evening before he was found bleeding and calling for help.
According to authorities, Fr. Kitima was struck on the head with a blunt object and hospitalized. He remains in stable condition. One suspect has been detained, and police say the investigation is ongoing.
The attack comes as Tanzania edges toward a general election in October, with tensions simmering between ruling party officials and civil society leaders who have increasingly raised concerns about political freedoms and civic space.
Fr. Kitima has emerged in recent years as a rare clerical voice urging greater government accountability. His frequent public statements have criticized laws seen as restrictive to media and civil rights, and he has called for dialogue between political factions.
The assault has drawn swift condemnation from legal and religious circles.
“This was a calculated attempt to silence a voice of conscience,” said Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, who visited the priest in hospital. Speaking to journalists outside the facility, Mr. Mwabukusi described the attack as “a brutal attempt to take his life.”
In a post on social media, he quoted the priest as saying: “We should not be afraid to pay the price for standing up for justice and fulfilling our duties to the country.”
So far, government officials have not issued a statement on the incident.
Fr. Kitima’s leadership within the Catholic Church has positioned him at the center of national debates on governance and reform. In a country where religious leaders often tread carefully in political matters, his willingness to speak out has made him both influential and vulnerable.
The Catholic Church has played a historically important role in Tanzanian civil life, particularly during periods of political transition. The latest attack has revived concerns that the pre-election environment could be marred by fear and targeted violence.
