Religion and Peacebuilding in Tanzania: Institutionalisation of Interfaith Peace Committee

Abstract

Tanzania is generally a peaceful country. Its peaceful nature resulted from a successful nation-building project initiated by the post-independent government under President Julius Nyerere. The project created one society above individuals’ socioeconomic and political identities. The nation-building project was instilled in Tanzanians to prioritise conflict prevention. In recent years, the Interfaith Peace Committee (IPC) has emerged as the most active conflict management and peacebuilding mechanism. Established in 2009, the IPC comprises religious leaders from different faiths to promote tolerance, peace and unity among Tanzanians. The committee mirrors Tanzania’s nation-building project. The IPC is prominent for its peacebuilding activities and interventions in various conflicts. This committee’s objectives and activities align with the Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 16, which promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies. Through an interfaith approach to conflict intervention and peacebuilding, the committee has aligned itself with SGD 16. However, more is needed to know how much the committee is institutionalised, as SGD 16 is also about attaining strong institutions. The research question this chapter addresses is to what extent is the IPC institutionalised? We argue that the IPC has yet to be institutionalised as it lacks defined structures, permanent staff, offices and a constitution.