Launching Forth with Noble Expectations: the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding’ (CCTPB) in Tanzania, East Africa.
Eastern Africa

Launching Forth with Noble Expectations: the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding’ (CCTPB) in Tanzania, East Africa.

By December 27, 2025 December 28th, 2025 No Comments

The registration of the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding’ (CCTPB) in Tanzania has been completed. Going forward, the board comprises Fr. Janusz Machota, MA, Chairman, Fr Wojciech Lula, MA, Mr. Collin Fortes, MA in Business, Mr. Karan Ruparelia, BSc in Applied Accounting, and Fr. Patrick Devine, PhD, International Chairman of the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR) in Kenya, USA, Republic of Ireland and N. Ireland/U.K. The new board expressed their grateful appreciation to Fr. Patrick Devine for both the initiative to found and establish the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (CCTPB)’ in Tanzania, and for personally funding the process of achieving the registration over the course of many years of strenuous bureaucratic engagements. His widespread contribution to humanitarian, peace, and development interventions throughout the country since 1988 and more recently with the founding of the Shalom-SCCRR ministry in 2009 for eastern Africa has been inspirational and prophetic. Thanks was also expressed to Ms. Felistas Joseph, Advocate, for her very considerable and generous role in procedural processes during the application interaction with the Government of Tanzania. Further appreciation was extended to Collin Fortes, his parents, Stephen and Numaish, and brother Tibu for their continuing substantial kindness and care in so many ways.

The members also expressed their utmost gratitude to the Government of Tanzania for certifying the registration and assured the government of their collaboration in every way possible, in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of the country and the Constitution of CCTPB. The new board resolved that the CCTPB Head Office will be at 19 Station Road, Plot No. 234T, P.O. Box 106, Mwanza, with other offices being developed in Arusha and Dar es Salaam. The organization’s immediate interventions, in sync with its constitutions, will focus on conflict transformation and peace-building interventions addressing issues of justice-peace-reconciliation, cultural violence against women and children (born and unborn), violence inflicted on people with albinism, countering human and organ trafficking, prevention and transforming religious ideological extremism, and helping with related school/educational development programs. The chairman of the CCTPB-Tanzania, Fr. Janusz Machota, MA, has already completed 10 years working for the cause of people with albinism, and this newly registered organization, with its strategy and expertise, will contribute immensely to safeguarding this noble group of people in Tanzania, among others. The general assistance of Shalom-SCCRR with its post-graduate professionally qualified interreligious team members will be much appreciated by CCTPB in the coming years. Shalom-SCCRR is looking forward to collaborating with the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding’ (CCTPB) when and where appropriate and possible.

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the eastern D. R. Congo, which borders Tanzania, among other countries, Fr. Patrick was encouraged to continue with his endeavors to register Shalom-SCCRR with the country’s government, as millions of people have been killed, maimed, and displaced in recent years. There is an urgent need for conflict transformation and peacebuilding, leading to resolution and reconciliation. The efforts of Rev. Prof. Emanuel Tembo, a native of the D. R. Congo, in assisting Fr. Patrick, is a sign of great hope for a future of conflict transformation, peace building, and reconciliation.

In February 2022, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) invited Shalom-SCCRR to facilitate a workshop on addressing Religious Ideological Extremism in Eastern Africa. The diocese of Mtwara, located in South-Eastern Tanzania, was present and represented by Bishop Titus Mdoe and other diocesan personnel. Shalom-SCCRR was asked to help prevent and transform the issue of Religious Ideological Extremism:https://shalomconflictcenter.org/shalom-sccrr-facilitates-amecea-forum-on-addressing-religious-ideological-extremism-in-eastern-africa/

The Diocese of Mtwara borders Mozambique to the South and the Indian Ocean to the East. Mtwara features a deep-water port which makes it favorable for big container ships to berth there. Being a natural harbor that has been recently expanded, its significance and potential has rapidly increased the facilitation of cargo transport to Lindi, Ruvuma regions and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) states. The conflict issues highlighted as a result of the changing economic and demographic landscape of Mtwara were:

  • Vested interests in natural resource projects such as the Gas project which led to violent conflict in the area;
  • Local community over-expectations;
  • Claims of inadequate community participation in the ongoing projects and low benefits from the gas project; and
  • Terrorism coming from across international borders within Eastern African region and further afield.

“The insecurity and instability experienced in Mtwara has substantially affected pastoral work especially along the border with Mozambique.” Bishop Titus Mdoe observed. In spite of these challenges, he commended the ongoing “government efforts towards restoring peace and prosperity in the region”.

Fr. Dunstan Mbano says, “We need Shalom-SCCRR in Mtwara. We have asked the Shalom leadership to send us a team of experts to assist in conducting conflict analysis so as to establish the underlying causes of these conflicts, and thereafter develop a design for conflict intervention.”

“There is a serious lack of capacity for inter-community engagement among conflicting communities and groups. This does affect their ability to work together to agree on and jointly address the problems that aggravate conflict between them. Skills and techniques of conducting problem-solving workshops as presented by Shalom-SCCRR, provide a necessary framework for advancing long-term interreligious and intercommunal collaboration for addressing challenges such as the religious ideological violent extremism,” observed Fr. Mbano.

Over a year ago, Fr. Patrick Devine was invited by the Superior of the Society of African Missions (SMA), for the Districk of Tanzania, Fr. John Kilcoyne, to give a conference on the work of Shalom-SCCRR, as well as a historical presentation on the early years of the SMA Society’s foundation, development and presence in the country; the invitation stated “We, the members of the SMA District of Tanzania hold our second annual meeting of this year in Mwanza from the evening of the 2nd of December until Friday the 6th of December. I, with my Council, would be deeply grateful if, during this meeting, you (Fr. Patrick) could give us a day-long conference on the work of SHALOM, with the ultimate goal of seeing how its work could be extended into our country of Tanzania.”

Based on the presentation, there was a tremendous response and encouragement from the conference concerning the Shalom-SCCRR methodology and its urgent relevance to conflict management, justice, peace, and reconciliation issues in Tanzania.  This was further affirmed by Fr. John’s endorsement and support for Fr. Janusz Machota and Fr Wojciech Lula (both with Masters Degrees in relevant mission specialized interests) to be involved in the Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (CCTPB), which was being registered in Tanzania at the time. We wish Fr. John every good wish and prayer as he takes up his new role with the SMA (Society of African Missions) in Ireland.  His contribution to peace and development work in Tanzania over 14 years was highly commendable. 

Thank you, Fr. Janusz Machota, MA, Francis Mwangi, MA, and Fr. Patrick Devine, Ph.D., for designing the CCTPB-Tanzania initial logo. The establishment of CCTPB–Tanzania represents the culmination of the tireless efforts and dedication of Fr. Patrick Devine, the Board, and all partners, while reaffirming Shalom–SCCRR’s unwavering commitment to, and steadfast pursuit of, its mission and vision. The board and management of Shalom-SCCRR wishes the ‘Center for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding’ (CCTPB) in Tanzania all the best as we all work for ‘a society where Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation prevails throughout Africa.’  Let’s now turn words into action for the peace and development of all the people of Tanzania, equally, going forward. Blessings in abundance!

By: Ms. Esther Kibe, MA, Shalom-SCCRR’s Communications Department

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