The Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency has decisively disbanded the Board of Trustees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Tanzania over severe allegations of property mismanagement.

In a dramatic intervention into religious administration, the Tanzanian government has dissolved the supreme governing board of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The drastic measure exposes deep-seated financial irregularities and systemic failures in fulfilling statutory duties within one of the nation's prominent religious institutions.

This unprecedented state action sends a powerful warning to all religious bodies operating within East Africa. It highlights a growing regional intolerance for the financial exploitation of congregants and the mismanagement of massive, tax-exempt church portfolios.

The CAG Audit Findings

The dissolution was formally announced in Dar es Salaam by Frank Kanyusi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency. The decision was triggered by a damning special report generated by the Controller and Auditor General.

According to Kanyusi, the comprehensive audit irrefutably established that the board had "grossly failed to discharge its statutory responsibilities" and was deeply complicit in the mismanagement of vast church properties. The investigation was initially launched following a deluge of formal complaints from desperate church members alleging collective embezzlement by the leadership.

Kanyusi emphasized that the agency was acting strictly within the confines of the law, which empowers the state to revoke mandates when trustees fundamentally breach their fiduciary obligations.

A Regional Crackdown on Religious Malpractice

The events unfolding in Tanzania mirror a broader, urgent conversation happening across the East African border in Kenya. Following the horrific Shakahola massacre and numerous high-profile financial scandals involving rogue pastors, the Kenyan government has aggressively debated implementing strict regulatory frameworks for religious organizations.

Tanzania's swift action provides a template for state intervention. By treating the church board as a corporate entity bound by strict financial insolvency and trusteeship laws, the Tanzanian government bypassed the often-thorny issue of religious freedom, focusing purely on financial crime and property law violations.

• The Trigger: Grassroots congregants filed complaints regarding rampant embezzlement and lack of annual reporting.
• The Audit: A special Controller and Auditor General investigation confirmed gross statutory negligence.
• The Consequence: Total disbandment of the board and potential criminal prosecution of the former trustees.

The Path Forward for the Congregation

To ensure continuity of the church's essential services, the state has mandated a rapid transitional process. The church administration has been granted a strict seven-day ultimatum to submit the names of ten reputable members to form an interim oversight committee.

This interim body will be tasked with stabilizing the church's administrative functions and safeguarding remaining assets pending the formal election and appointment of a brand-new, thoroughly vetted board of trustees.

Furthermore, Kanyusi confirmed that the explosive CAG report would be forwarded to other relevant law enforcement authorities. This suggests that the disgraced board members may soon face criminal charges for their roles in the financial scandal.

Nipping Conflict in the Bud

Emmanuel Kihamba, the Registrar of Civil Societies in the Ministry of Home Affairs, noted that his office is inundated with similar complaints across various denominations. He warned that ignoring financial disputes often leads to catastrophic institutional collapse.

"The conflicts we see in religious institutions often begin as complaints. If those complaints are not addressed in time, they evolve into formal grievances, and if the grievances remain unresolved, they can escalate into serious conflicts," Kihamba cautioned.

As the Tanzanian state firmly reasserts its regulatory authority over religious wealth, congregations across East Africa are recognizing that absolute financial transparency is no longer optional—it is a legal mandate.