In Mbalizi, a town in Tanzania’s southwestern Mbeya region, plans to demolish a nearly 200-year-old mosque called “Msikiti Mkongwe” (Old Mosque) to make room for a new road have caused a division of opinions within the local community. Some support the decision, and others oppose it.
The mosque, originally constructed around 1826 using grass and later rebuilt with bricks, has undergone several renovations and holds great historical and religious significance for the community.
The demolition is part of the Mbalizi-Makongolosi road project, which aims to improve transportation infrastructure in the region.
Despite the mosque’s continued use, the local Islamic community has decided not to oppose its demolition. Ustadh Juma Masoud Kassim, the mosque’s secretary, recognise the necessity of the government’s plans and is already constructing a new mosque adjacent to the Old Mosque.
While some residents support the infrastructure improvements, others argue for preserving the mosque as a historical site.
Kassim said that the new mosque is being funded entirely by donations from worshippers and community members, without any financial aid from the government.
The decision to demolish the Old Mosque has elicited mixed reactions in the community. Some residents advocate for its preservation, while others have come to terms with the situation.
Chunya District Commissioner Mbaraka Batenga acknowledged the mosque’s historical importance but stressed the necessity of the road project during regional Maulid celebrations.