Archbishop Maimbo Mndolwa has been re-elected as the primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania. The announcement was made on 9 February 2023, at the meeting of the church’s provincial synod, which was held in the city of Dodoma.
Archbishop Mndolwa, who has been serving as the primate since 2018, was re-elected by a majority of the synod’s delegates. He was elected on the third ballot in a vote of 72 to 69 leading his opponent, Rt. Rev Stanley Hotay. In his acceptance speech, he thanked the delegates for their confidence in him and pledged to continue leading the church with humility, transparency, and accountability.
During the Lambeth conference in 2022, archbishop Mndolwa told the bishops of Canterbury, he said; “You white people in the north know that we Tanzanians are your fellow Anglicans but you have your issues. Do not bring them to us we will not accept them.”
He further stated, however, “We southern people should know that white people have their own issues. Let us not force them to agree with us. This is a big lesson, do not despise it. If you come to Tanzania you will learn to live by tolerating each other in their myriad differences.”
The Anglican Church of Tanzania is the largest Christian denomination in Tanzania, with an estimated 6 million members. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has more than 80 million members in 165 countries.
Archbishop Mndolwa has been a prominent figure in the Anglican Church of Tanzania for many years. Since he was ordained as a priest, he has held various leadership positions in the church, including serving as bishop of Tanga and as the archbishop of the Anglican Church of Tanzania’s Northern Province. Under his leadership, the Anglican Church of Tanzania has been involved in a number of social and humanitarian initiatives, including promoting education and healthcare, supporting women’s empowerment, and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.
The re-election of Archbishop Mndolwa as the primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania is expected to provide continuity and stability to the church’s leadership.
