Loliondo "miracle cure" influx to be controlled
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THE government has no plans to ban a former cleric, Mr Ambilikile Mwaisapile, from providing his 'magic cure' to people who have gathered at his clinic in Loliondo.
Delivering the government's position on the issue on Friday in Dar es Salaam, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Coordination and National Assembly), Mr William Lukuvi, denied that an order to suspend the service had been issued.
"The government cannot interfere with religious beliefs because it is not in its policy to do so. Actually the government has made interventions to facilitate and supervise the influx of people to the area to enable them access the service and prevent any tragedy," he said.
He also reminded Tanzanians not to remove their critically ill patients from hospitals saying by doing so they could lead to deaths before even reaching the pastor.
Further, the minister emphasized that the government cannot say that the medicine was poisonous or not at this point since experts are investigating it. They will submit a report when they are through.
When clarifying the issue on the government position, Mr Lukuvi said that the state was doing everything possible to ensure that the pastor gets the assistance he needs in facilitating his services.
The assistance includes sending ambulances and other hygienic items to the clinic so that they can be used in emergency situations for patients who are waiting for treatment.
According to him, the government in its efforts to make this plan successful has formed a committee to oversee the safety of patients entering the area. This means only a specified number of people will be allowed in the area in a day.
This will make administration of the drug easier for the pastor and avert mishaps that are likely to occur.
"The committee started its work yesterday by restricting any new patients entering the area until when the 6,000 who are already there are attended by the pastor. We are doing this in good faith. No harm is meant, that is why we have deployed police officers in the area and in all the entry points leading to the village, he said.
"There are more than 800 motor vehicles on the roads entering the village and we cannot allow more vehicles to enter because it is dangerous. We have, therefore, closed all the roads until those who are already there leave."
The committee among other things has the task of assessing the necessary social service needs that are required in the area. They will inform the government so that it can send requirements immediately, he said.
"But this does not mean that we shall shift the hospitals there. Not at all! We will send all the ordinary services and already we have deployed a few nurses who will help the patients waiting for the treatment to get first aid support," Lukuvi said.
He added that funds were available and coming from the ordinary government budget. Meanwhile, the minister has assured the public that no government official will be allowed to jump the queue of people waiting to see the pastor for treatment.
"I advise Tanzanians who are planning to visit the pastor this week to postpone since all roads have been closed. You should be patient. The pastor will continue to offer his services and everyone will be able to meet him. He will not be barred from providing the services," said the minister.
Meanwhile, the issue of the 'magic cure' discovered by a retired cleric, Mr Ambilikile Masapila of Loliondo, is gradually splitting the Christian community in Arusha, reports Marc Nkwame.
Some churches here are reported to be preventing members of their congregation from travelling to the remote Sonjo plains where Pastor Masapila hands out the miracle concoction.
The churches claim that the practice went against the Christianity faith.
However, other denominations are encouraging their followers to try out this new healing power.
"Many people have been asking me if it was alright Biblically for them to drink the Loliondo medicine," said Pastor Andrew Mollel of the Philadelphia (TAG) church here. "I keep telling them that faith was a personal matter and that the decision lay in their hearts," said the clergy.
Pastor Mollel refuted claims from some religious leaders who have been reportedly warning their followers that the new 'miracle cure' would lead them astray and corrupt their faiths.
"All I know is that Pastor Masapila provides a cure. He does not try to introduce a new faith or religion. And if his medicine works, then people should go and take it," said Mr Mollel.
Members of the denominations under the Evangelical Assemblies of God in Tanzania (EAGT), however have, so far, been warned by their Northern Zone Bishop, Pastor Ezekiel Mwizarubi, against Pastor Masapila's herbal concoction.
As far as the EAGT is concerned, if indeed the healing comes from God as claimed, then there is nothing to prevent the Almighty from curing people wherever they are, instead of travelling 500 kilometres to Masapila's clinic in Samunge Village.
But a number of EAGT members are already queuing at Pastor Masapila's clinic and one who preferred anonymity said before boarding a truck to Loliondo that: "I want to be healed, even if that means I get thrown out of the church."
The Full Gospel Bible Fellowship followers in Arusha have reportedly been warned by their sovereign national Bishop, Zacharia Kakobe in Dar-Es-Salaam, against taking the new elixir. The FGBF denomination claims to have its own healing powers through prayer.
The head of the Northern and Central Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Bishop Thomas Laizer, said during a press conference here that Pastor Masapila's magical cure was a 'God given gift' and that people should use the concoction to eliminate their ailments because it certainly has been proven to work.
"A number of church workers, pastors and bishops have drunk Masapila's herbal cure and all got healed. The medicine is a saviour," said Bishop Laizer, who recently offered to help the Loliondo medicineman to improve both the environment and the sanitation of his clinic, where thousands of people flock daily.
The ELCT is currently undertaking the task of building special premises around Pastor Masapila's residence where people can be sheltered while awaiting medication. The Lutheran Bishop also said his church was building a number of toilets and garbage depositing centres to improve sanitation.
The Chairman of Christian Denominations in Arusha, Pastor Mathias Mushi, who oversees a union of more than 20 churches, said it was high time differing parties sat and addressed the issue together.
"We have had testimonies of people who claim to have been healed. It is not upon us to debate the matter but rather sit down and talk about the issue because Pastor Masapila has explained that God showed him the medicine through a dream," said Pastor Mushi.
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- By BatoolM