PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan and the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) yesterday mourned the late Bishop Chediel Sendoro of the Mwanga Diocese, who died in a car accident late on Monday.

Rev, Dr Sendoro was the son of the first bishop of the Eastern and Coastal Diocese, the Rev. Dr Elinaza Sendoro, retired since the mid-1990s, with Bishop Dr. Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Karagwe Diocese in Kagera Region, being among notable mourners yesterday 

The Karagwe prelate, reputedly a close friend and mentor to the late bishop, said in his message “The light of Mwanga has gone out,” while in a message sent to ELCT followers and the wider public, ELCT presiding bishop Rev. Dr. Alex Malasusa urged prayers for the family, the ELCT Mwanga Diocese, its members and all those affected by the tragedy.

Citing lines of Scripture, he invoked the citation “but dear ones, do not grieve like those who have no hope,” while in response to the prelate’s death, President Samia sent condolences to Bishop Malasusa, all bishops, congregants, the family, relatives and friends.

On her X handle the president shared her sadness on the news of the death of ELCT Bishop Chediel Elinaza of Mwanga Diocese, praying for comfort with another line of scripture, 'for here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.'

Bishop Bagonza wrote on his Facebook page that there was close affinity between dioceses of Karagwe, Mwanga and Pare and now that the light of Mwanga has gone out, this affinity has been “left in the wilderness.”

He eulogised the late bishop as a member of the ELCT, the first-born of Diocese #25 of Mwanga, an integral part of the house of bishops, and leaving a mark in the ELCT, CCT and in the three diocese affinity.

"You had a unique place in my life: You could tell me things others could not. When you were silent, we felt you were hiding something. When you were happy, we knew something good was coming. You were blessed with the truth without offending others do.” the senior prelate intoned.

The Rev, Dr Stephen Munga, retired bishop of the North-East Diocese based in Tanga, extended condolences to his wife and two children, noting especially their son Eric, who was injured in the accident that claimed his father’s life.

ACP Simon Maigwa, the Kilimanjaro regional police commander, said in a briefing that Bishop Sendoro died on the night of September 9, at around 1:30 a.m., after the Toyota Prado he was driving collided head-on with a Scania truck at Kisangiro, Mwanga District.

Before the accident, Bishop Sendoro and his son, who is receiving treatment at KCMC regional referral hospital, were traveling from Himo in Moshi District to Mwanga. 

The car was overtaking two other vehicles when it collided head-on with the Scania truck coming from Tanga towards Arusha, he added.