Kikwete to grace New Year’s Eve national prayers

President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete is on New Year’s Eve expected to grace special prayers for the nation, organized to pray for peace and harmony in the country.

The prayers pencilled for the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam will coincide with those in Zanzibar the same night, where the Second Vice-President of Zanzibar, Ambassador Seif Ali Idd, will be the guest of honour.

Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Bishop Godfrey Malas from the Tanzania Fellowship of Churches said the prayers will take place on Monday night.

“The prayers will also be conducted in various regions including Morogoro and Coast. The aim is to preach peace and harmony for our people to abstain from unnecessary conflicts that breach peace in the country,” he said.

Bishop Malas assured the public that the prayers organized by Christian Faithful in Zanzibar will be conducted peacefully, asking people of the Isles to attend the special event and pray for the nation.

“The State (Zanzibar government) has assured us of full security and we have no fear for conducting our event,” he said, adding that other government leaders including Ambassadors based in Tanzania will attend. In Mainland, Bishop Malas said high profile leaders will attend the event.

“Some of the leaders have already confirmed to attend the prayers including Kenyan and Zambian Ambassadors based in Tanzania,” he noted. On the other hand, the bishop condemned grisly incidents occurring in both Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland, calling on the public to be faithful in order to maintain peace.