Kigoma. The Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Simon Sirro, has called on local leaders, religious figures, and residents to strengthen security and maintain peace in their respective areas, especially given the region’s proximity to the border.
Sirro made the remarks during a meeting with various stakeholders in Kigoma, emphasizing the importance of vigilance, unity, and community involvement in safeguarding the region against potential threats.
“Our local leaders — from hamlets and villages — each must ensure that security in their area is strengthened. If anyone notices something unusual, they should immediately share the information so that we can address it together,” said Sirro.
He urged religious leaders to play their part in promoting peace through spiritual guidance, particularly among the youth.
“As I always say, our religious leaders conduct spiritual patrols — please help us by ensuring that when you meet in churches or mosques, you talk to our youth about peace. It will help us move forward from where we are,” he added.
Sirro also spoke about the need for regional coordination, noting that business activities near the border can pose security challenges.
“The third or fourth point concerns giving small directives to our region, because we see other regions doing the same. In these environments, we never know where a threat might come from — and unfortunately, we are located at the border, where anything can happen,” he said.
Political Leaders Urged to Avoid Provocation
Political leader Hassan Yunguru also addressed the gathering, calling on all political parties to focus on promoting peace and discouraging incitement or provocation.
“All political parties should preach peace and stop incitement. Once an issue has passed, we move forward and make corrections where needed, but we should not create conditions for violence or unrest. We are Tanzanians, and our unity as Tanzanians is very valuable,” said Yunguru.
He emphasized that peace and stability are crucial for the nation’s progress and urged leaders to act responsibly, especially in politically sensitive times.
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Traditional Leaders Call for Reflection
Alfred Kimenya, a traditional elder, also spoke during the meeting, urging both the government and the community to reflect on the causes of past disturbances and address them to prevent future incidents.
“As stakeholders, we must assess and examine the weaknesses that led to the recent events, and then correct them,” said Kimenya. “In this meeting, I cannot take too much time because I know many people want this opportunity. But I advise the government to review and identify the gaps that caused the unrest so that it can deal with them. If these weaknesses are not addressed, one day such incidents could spread to other regions.”
Kimenya warned that while recent incidents may have seemed minor, failing to act on early signs could allow problems to grow and affect wider areas.
Sirro’s remarks underscored the need for closer cooperation between community leaders, religious institutions, and residents in preserving peace and stability across the region. He stressed that continued vigilance was especially important for border areas that are more exposed to potential security challenges.
