AFRICA/TANZANIA -The priest’s health condition, who was injured at Christmas on the island of Zanzibar, is improving

Dar Es Salaam (Agenzia Fides) - Fr. Ambrose Mkenda’s health condition is improving, the Catholic priest wounded by unknown gunmen on Christmas Day, on the island of Zanzibar.
According to local Church sources contacted by Fides Agency, Fr. Mkenda after celebrating Mass in Mpendae was returning by car to his parish in Tomondo, when he realized he was being followed by two men on a motorcycle. When he arrived at the parish as he was getting out of the car, Fr. Mkenda was hit by two gunshot wounds to the cheek and back. The criminals then went to the rectory, turning the place upside down. After the initial emergency care in a hospital on the island, the priest was transported to an orthopedic facility in Dar Es Salaam where he was operated for the extraction of bullets. The President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, visited the priest. According to Fides sources, Fr. Mkeda was the victim of an act of common crime and not an action by extremist elements. In recent months there were sectarian tensions that resulted in the ransacking of some churches of Christian denominations. (see Fides 26/10/2012). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/01/2013)