Adventist World Radio Tanzania

The re-emergence of the radio ministry came in 1997 when Tanzania’s political climate became favorable for private radio stations and had been waited for a long time. Pastor Lameck Mwamukonda, then president of Tanzania Union Mission, spear-headed the move of having an Adventist World Radio (AWR) station in the country for mission.¹

AWR, which was already running the broadcasts in Nairobi, Kenya, since 1984, was on the move to make her branch in Tanzania. With the workmanship of Cliver Mbwana, from Morogoro, Tanzania, and the directions of the AWR then having a base in Nairobi, Kenya, the needed missing equipment for transmission was brought to Morogoro. The studio for transmission in Morogoro was already prepared in the building which then was also a home for East Tanzania Field headquarters, and had been for more than 28 years back.²

Mbwana became a temporary producer, and Andrew Haule served as a technician. Under the instructions of Adventist World Radio International, the programs were recorded in Morogoro, then sent to South Africa for airing.³

As soon as the broadcast took off, then producer Michael Kuyenga joined in.

Just two years later, in 1999, the Tanzania Union Committee took an action to join Voice of Prophecy (VOP), with AWR to be under the institution known as Voice of Prophecy/Tanzania Adventist Media Corporation (VOP/TAMC).⁴

The main objective of AWR Swahili being evangelism, it provides information and educates society through its various programs that touch on current issues. AWR Swahili has a total of nine programs that are heard throughout the week. Among the nine programs, three are spiritual and six are societal.

After having programs in Kiswahili, which is an obvious need since it is the national language, in the year 2003, AWR in Tanzania widened its scope by adding AWR Maasai, and the first producer was Pastor Loitopwak Lebabu. The aim of establishing AWR Maasai was to be able to reach the semitic Maasai society with ease due to their tradition of shifting. AWR Maasai has a total of nine programs, four being spiritual and five focused on community education.

Every year in Tanzania, more than 50 people have reportedly given their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Savior through baptism as a result of various programs that are presented.⁵

AWR Tanzania can be heard through shortwave, and one can tune in AWR Tanzania programs through website www.awr.org in both Kiswahili and Maasai. Some programs can also be heard through Morning Star FM, which is in Tanzania from 9:15 East Africa GMT.

Studio Managers

Michael Kuyenga (1997-2003), Lusekelo Mwakalindile (2003-2007), Richard Khaniki (2008-2013), Lusekelo Mwakalindile (2014-2015), Andrew Haule (2015- ).

Sources

Tanzania Adventist Media Corporation, 2018.

Tanzania Adventist Media Corporation History, 2018.

“Tanzania Adventist Media Series Lead Thousands to Christ.” Adventist Review, July 7, 2021. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://adventistreview.org/news/tanzania-adventist-media-series-leads-thousands-to-jesus/.

Notes

1. Tanzania Adventist Media Corporation (TAMC) Profile, 2018.↩

2. Interview with Mr. Cliver Mbwana conducted on March 28, 2019. at the Ufunuo Publishing House.↩

3. Interview with Elder Andrew Haule, conducted on April 1, 2019, at the Morogoro AWR Studio.↩

4. TAMC Profile, December 2018.↩

5. Interview with Pr. Lemereka Kibasisi, conducted on March 15, 2019, by mobile phone. “Tanzania Adventist Media Series Lead Thousands to Christ,” Adventist Review, July 7, 2021, https://adventistreview.org/news/tanzania-adventist-media-series-leads-thousands-to-jesus/.↩