Kikwete hosts clerics with Iftar

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete urged religious leaders in Tanzania not to allow differences based on religion or variation of belief within one denomination to another to become the source of conflicts in the society.
Kikwete said this on Sunday that tolerance among people of different religions and sects was crucial in sustaining peace and tranquility in the country.
He implored religious leaders to help build the culture of tolerance and respect among followers of different faiths.
The president was speaking at the State House in Dar es Salaam during an Iftar which he hosted for various religious leaders.
Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Holy month of Ramadhan after sunset.
He further called on the leaders to refrain from insulting followers of other religions or sects, saying divisions, misunderstandings and conflicts in the society would always make the work of clerics difficult.
''I urge you to spare some of your time and pray for the sustainable peace and tranquility as a way of creating conducive environment for people of this country to participate effectively in building their nation," reads the statement issued by the State House.
''Pray for our country so that we can be blessed with rainfall that will fill our dams so we can have reliable power supply and have pumper harvests to beat hunger,'' it adds.