| A cross-section of Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Iringa Diocese General Assembly (Synod xii) listening to the sermon during the 12th general meeting held at Kidamali Congregation, western sub diocese in Iringa District, Iringa region yesterday. (Photo Friday Simbaya) |
THE church has urged the government to urgently improve a friendly business environment by implementing participatory policies especially in education sector, hence boost competitiveness and sustain economic.
The statement was delivered yesterday by the bishop Blaton Tuluwene Gaville of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Iringa Diocese during a meeting with journalists in concurrence with the 12th Diocese Synod Summit (SYNOD XII) held at Kidamali Congregation situated in the western sub -diocese of Iringa district, Iringa region.
He advised the government to provide conducive environment for investment in the country by engage stakeholders when it encompasses various policies to implement participatory policies.
He said that the government should involve multi-stakeholders before adopting policies so that these policies could be participating and eventually develop development in the respective areas.
Bishop Gaville said flexibility in policy reform has repeatedly affecting the provision of higher education services especially at their University of Iringa, former Tumaini University that is owned by church.
He said that a change in policy in the admitting of higher education students like Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) central admission, National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) and so on has contributed to the challenge of provision of higher education.
TCU is a body corporate mandated to recognize, approve, register and accredit universities operating in Tanzania and local or foreign university level programmes being offered by non-TCU registered higher education institutions.
TCU also coordinates the proper functioning of all university institutions in Tanzania so as to foster a harmonized higher education system in the country.
Gaville has also asked the government to spend some time together and to do enough research before starting policy implementation that would have been more productive.
One issues tax, he has stated that there have been a lot of taxes that are not adequately studied. He suggested that the exchange of tax deductions begin with the minimum by involving various stakeholders.
“…taxes like workers compensation, occupational safety and health (OSH) and many others are impacting on the provision higher education service,” the bishop said.
The Synod Conference which started on 2nd May and ended on 5th May this year, is a step-by-step church decision making process that combines the implementation of the strategy development plan as it reached the goals for a four-year period.
Iringa Diocese is under the leadership of the Bishop Blaston Tuluwene Gaville since 26/06/2017 after his first bishop Dr. Owdenburg Moses Mdegella retired from 20/09/1987 to June 2017. The Iringa Diocese is divided into seven sub-dioceses, 105 congregations, 962 evangelists, 264 pastors and more than 862 preaching points.
In their Iringa Diocese General Conference they have agreed to implement a ten-year (2018-2028) strategic plan which carries the theme, "Let's Get Out and Build"
“This is the First General Assembly I'm leading since holding this bishop's position. I wish so much for this meeting to show the correct direction of the Diocese For this second phase of Leadership,” the bishop pronounced.
He said that in 2018-2028 strategic plan they will following the National Development Plan 2025, he that has been invested in the use of modern technology, the increase in productivity, modern infrastructure and the investing In Human development Resources.
“Iringa Diocese has fully developed in the key elements of development In stimulating, coordinating, and guiding the efforts of Tanzanians and their resources to bring about their development,” he said.
According to the Iringa Region Head Office's Report (2015) the main source of income for the people of Iringa was the sale of Crops as well as processing industries, forestry, and tourism, the Diocese is well-equipped to make good use of these good opportunities.
He pointed out that many young people have missed employment Opportunities, which leads to unfaithfulness, prostitution and robbery, so the Church has developed development projects such as planting trees, and the establishment of SACCOS to help young people develop economically, but also build a school, the university , Hospitals and Health Centers To Reduction Primary Challenges for Basic Services for Communities.
On the issue of climate change, The Church recognizes the challenge of climate change and environmental damage so the Church is focused on providing community education on environmental care.
