Josephat Mathias Gwajima is a prominent Tanzanian politician,influential bishop,evangelical preacher,and accomplished author who is currently serving as a Member of Parliament[1][2] for the Kawe Constituency since October 25,2020. He is a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)[3],the prevailing political party in the United Republic of Tanzania,where he also serves as a member of the National Executive Committee for CCM since December 2022. He is the archbishop and founder of Ufufuo na Uzima Ministries (The Glory of Christ Tanzania Church),founded in September 1995,an organisation that spreads the Christian gospel and provides spiritual guidance globally[4].
Gwajima is widely known for his impassioned sermons,expansive church network,bold political commentary,and his distinctive role in shaping religious and political discourse in Tanzania[5].
Early life and education
Josephat Gwajima was born on 19 December 1970 at home in Kabale village,Misungwi District,Mwanza Region,Tanzania. He is the 8th child of Mathias Gwajima and Ruth Swea and belongs to the Sukuma ethnic group. Raised in a modest,rural environment,his upbringing was deeply shaped by traditional values and Christian influence.
During his teenage years,Gwajima suffered a severe spinal condition that left him partially paralysed for six years. According to his personal testimony,at the age of fifteen,he experienced a miraculous healing following a vision in which he encountered Jesus Christ through a dream. This spiritual awakening became the foundation of his lifelong religious mission.
Education
He began his education at Kabale Primary School in Misungwi,where he earned his Certificate of Primary Education in 1985. He completed secondary studies at Buswelu Secondary School in Mwanza in 1993. Throughout his school years,he was known for preaching to students and teachers,earning the nickname "pastor."
In 1994,Gwajima earned a Certificate in Pastoral Theology from Grace College of East Africa in Nairobi,Kenya. He later moved to the United States and pursued a Bachelor of Theology and Ministry at West Coast Bible College &Seminary in Dallas,Texas,graduating in 1998. He was ordained a Certificate of Bishop Ordination &License in 2002 and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Theology and Counselling from the same institution. His academic research focused on church leadership from an African perspective.
In 2015,Gwajima received an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from Omega Global University in Mbombela,South Africa,in recognition of his global evangelism and leadership.
Religious leadership
Prior to founding his own ministry,Gwajima served as a senior pastor in the Tanzanian branch of Yoido Full Gospel Church,part of a global Pentecostal network based in South Korea.
In 1995,he established Ufufuo na Uzima Ministries,also known as The Glory of Christ Tanzania Church,with its headquarters in Dar es Salaam. The ministry rapidly expanded to include thousands of congregations throughout Tanzania and the globe. The ministry offers religious services,youth and family counseling,healthcare outreach,and education programs.
Under his leadership,the church became one of the most influential Pentecostal institutions in East Africa,noted for its mass crusades,online broadcasts,and spiritual revival campaigns.
Political career
Gwajima has always shared various political views,even before he ventured into politics. However,he formally entered Tanzanian politics in the year 2020. In 2020 Gwajima contested for the Kawe Constituency parliamentary seat under the ticket of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM),Tanzania’s ruling political party. His candidacy sparked national attention due to both his religious prominence and the constituency’s political history.
Kawe had been a stronghold of the opposition partyCHADEMA,and since 2010,it was represented by Halima Mdee,a seasoned politician,outspoken human rights advocate,and one of the most influential female leaders in Tanzanian opposition politics. Mdee was widely regarded as politically unbeatable within the constituency due to her strong grassroots support and long-standing dominance.
However,in a historic political upset,Gwajima defeated Halima Mdee in the October 28,2020 general elections,marking the first time since 2010 that the opposition lost control of Kawe. His victory was seen not only as a personal political milestone but also as a strategic gain for CCM,especially in urban constituencies where the opposition had typically maintained strength. As a Member of Parliament,he has become a prominent advocate for public accountability,economic sovereignty,and national development.
He frequently promotes Tanzania's potential to become a continental leader in agriculture and natural resource management,arguing that the country has the capacity to serve as a food hub for Africa and beyond. He emphasizes the importance of youth empowerment,national self-reliance,and faith-driven leadership in government.
He also serves on the National Executive Committee of CCM as a member,contributing to party-wide policymaking at the highest level.
One of Gwajima’s most significant policy contributions since entering Parliament has been the conceptualization and advocacy of a 50-year National Development Plan for Tanzania. He argued that for Tanzania to achieve long-term economic stability and meaningful growth,the country must adopt a non-partisan,consistent national development framework that transcends political cycles and party agendas[7].
He strongly advocated that every elected government,regardless of political affiliation,should be constitutionally and administratively bound to anchor its priorities within a unified National Development Agenda. According to Gwajima,the frequent abandonment of long-term strategies by successive governments in favor of short-term,politically driven programs results in national stagnation,policy discontinuity,and wasted resources.
Although his proposal for a full 50-year development plan was not fully adopted,it significantly influenced policy discussions and led to the partial acceptance of his framework in the form of a 25-year National Development Plan[8]. In conjunction with this,and in direct response to his calls for dedicated institutional oversight,the Government of Tanzania established the Ministry of Planning and Investment[9]. A cabinet level body tasked with ensuring long-term development strategy alignment. The ministry,which did not exist prior to his advocacy,was mandated to coordinate cross-sectoral investment and planning initiatives and is widely viewed as a structural realization of his developmental vision. While the adopted plan did not entirely reflect his original vision,it marked a historic step toward institutionalizing long-term strategic planning in Tanzania and is widely regarded as one of his major policy legacies.
Public views,controversies,and the rise of "Gwajimanization"
Gwajima has attracted both national and international attention for his outspoken views on political,ethical,and public health matters. He has long been a central figure in Tanzania’s religious and political landscape,recognized for his forthright criticism of government policies,human rights abuses,and perceived institutional failures. A vocal opponent of gender identity ideology,he also rose to prominence as a critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates[10] and questioned the transparency of pandemic-era health interventions[11][12].
Among his most serious allegations,Gwajima accused elements within the Tanzanian state of orchestrating a covert campaign of abductions,enforced disappearances,and extrajudicial killings[13],primarily targeting outspoken government critics. He repeatedly alleged the existence of a politically motivated task force operating within security agencies,functioning outside constitutional oversight[14][15].
"Gwajimanization" and confrontation with the state[16]
Gwajima’s continued activism led to a high-profile confrontation with the administration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan[17]. In 2025,during a public address,President Suluhu used the term "Gwajimanization" in a sarcastic reference to his outspoken criticism urging his party members not to allow people of Gwajima’s character in the CCM party and government system[18][19]. However,the phrase was swiftly reclaimed by civil society,opposition figures,and youth activists,redefined as a symbol of courage and fearless civic resistance and truth-telling.
As popularly embraced,the term came to mean:
"The unwavering courage to speak the truth,no matter how bitter or inconvenient it may be for those in power. It is the fierce commitment to defend the national interest of the public above personal gain,and to raise a voice so bold and unrelenting that it echoes through the halls of power,shaking the very foundations of corruption and injustice[20]."
This ideological turn galvanized a wave of activism,now known as the Gwajimanization Agenda,which called for constitutional reforms,national policy continuity,and protection of civil liberties. This civic movement advocates for public integrity,policy accountability,and the defense of democratic rights. It resonated particularly among youth,civil society,and independent political actors. While it gained widespread support,it also triggered the President Suluhu government's pushback.
Church closures and an alleged assassination attempt[21][22][23]
On June 2,2025,the Tanzanian government under President Samia Suluhu escalated its response by revoking the legal registration of Ufufuo na Uzima Ministries, ordering the closure of more than 2,000 churches[24] affiliated with Gwajima across the country. Notably,the government’s actions were carried out without following legal procedures. No prior notice was issued,no hearings were held,and the ministry was given no opportunity to respond or appeal. The abrupt and extrajudicial nature of the closure sparked widespread outcry from human rights advocates,civil society groups,and members of the international community[25]. That same night,at approximately 23:15 (EAT),a contingent of armed police officers allegedly affiliated with the shadowy task force Gwajima had previously criticized raided the headquarters of Ufufuo na Uzima Church in Dar es Salaam[26][27].
Reports indicate the officers believed Gwajima was present at the premises with the intent to arrest or abduct him. However,he evaded capture and has not been seen publicly since[28]. As of early June 2025,his whereabouts remain unknown,and neither the police nor government authorities have issued a formal statement regarding the raid or his disappearance. The incident has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally,with human rights organizations calling for transparency and due process. Multiple civil society groups and international observers have since raised concerns over his forced disappearance and the broader climate of repression facing critics of the President Samia Suluhu Tanzanian government.[29]
Personal life
Gwajima is married to one wife,Grace Gwajima,and has three children. In addition to his pastoral and legislative duties,he is the author of several theological and motivational books and regularly mentors young leaders in the spheres of religion,governance,and community development.
Legacy
Archbishop Josephat Gwajima is regarded as one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern Tanzanian society. His work bridges the spheres of faith,politics,and civil advocacy. Through the ideology of Gwajimanization and his push for a national development agenda,he has become a powerful voice in calls for truth,consistency,and public-centered governance. Whether from the pulpit or the Parliament floor,his message continues to resonate across Tanzanian society.[30][31][32]
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