Bernardo Sepeku Battles for Inherited Church Land

Sepeku’s Son Fights for Justice Over Church-Gifted Land in Protracted Legal Battle

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Dar es Salaam – Bernardo Sepeku, 63, the son of the late Archbishop John Sepeku—Tanzania's first Anglican Archbishop—spent five hours in court yesterday defending his claim to a piece of land he says was unjustly taken from his family, despite having been a retirement gift from the Anglican Church in 1978.

Testifying before the High Court’s Land Division in case number 378/2023, Bernardo described a four-decade battle for recognition of ownership of a 20-acre parcel located in Buza, Temeke, and a house in Buguruni, both allegedly gifted to his father by the Anglican Church of Tanzania in recognition of his leadership.

The defendants in the case include the Board of Trustees of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, Bishop Jackson Sostenes, and Xinrong Plastic Waste Industry Co. Ltd. Bernardo seeks compensation of TZS 3.72 billion for financial losses due to alleged trespassing and destruction of property on the disputed land. He also demands TZS 493.65 million in damages for crops that would have matured on the land had it remained undisturbed.

Notably, Xinrong Plastic Waste Industry Co. Ltd, the third defendant, has yet to appear in court despite being formally summoned.

Historical Background and Claims

Represented by lawyers Deogratias Butawantemi and Gwamaka Sekela, Bernardo told Justice Arafa Msafiri that in 1978 and 1980, the Anglican Church’s Synod resolved to gift Archbishop Sepeku land and housing upon his retirement. The decisions were officially recorded, and the church acted on them—building a house in Buguruni and allocating 20 acres of land in Buza.

Despite these steps, Bernardo emphasized, “It’s been 44 years, and we’ve never received a title deed for the 20-acre land that was given to my late father.”

Documentary Evidence Accepted by Court

Bernardo submitted six key documents to support his claim, including the official grant of probate issued by the Kariakoo Primary Court on October 27, 2020, which recognized him as the estate administrator. Other documents included Synod meeting minutes from 1978 and 1980, correspondence between the Sepeku family and the Church Board of Trustees, a letter from Temeke Municipal Council urging title transfer, a land dispute notice from Buza Ward Land Tribunal, and communication from the Dar es Salaam Diocese.

Despite objections from defense lawyer Dennis Malamba—citing non-compliance with Government Notice No. 761 of 2021—the court overruled and accepted all six documents into evidence.

The Land Dispute: Alleged Trespassing and Destruction

Bernardo recounted that in July 2023, a watchman alerted him to an invasion of the Buza property, where crops were destroyed. He immediately contacted Anglican Church Head Bishop Maimbo Mndolwa to report the intrusion. However, the Bishop claimed no knowledge of the incident.

Determined, Bernardo visited the property and discovered construction activities underway by Xinrong Plastic Waste Industry Co. Ltd. When confronted, company representatives stated that they had been authorized by Bishop Jackson Sostenes of the Dar es Salaam Diocese, a co-defendant in the case.

Failed Mediation and Church Acknowledgement

Seeking preliminary resolution, Bernardo turned to the Buza Ward Land Tribunal. While Bishop Jackson appeared as a representative of Xinrong during the hearing, the company itself did not send any representatives.

During the session, the Chairman of the Church’s Board of Trustees acknowledged that Archbishop Sepeku had indeed received the land as a gift. Nevertheless, he requested that the matter be settled outside the tribunal, suggesting a private meeting with the church’s board members.

In turn, Bishop Jackson affirmed his role in placing the company on the land but added that should the land’s ownership be legally proven to belong to the Sepeku family, he would be willing to cover the incurred costs.

Next Hearing Dates

Justice Msafiri adjourned the case to March 7 and 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., when Bernardo is expected to resume his testimony.