Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Agenzia Fides) – “From the colonial times to the post independent times, governments have failed to facilitate the construction of a society that is respectful of the dignity of all persons and guarantee security, justice and peace.” That was how Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare, President of the Zimbabwean Bishops’ Conference, described the deeper causes behind the country’s crisis which has worsened in recent years. Archbishop Ndlovu gave a presentation on the country’s situation during the meeting held between the Zimbabwean Bishops’ Conference and the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference which took place in Pretoria (South Africa), September 8-11.
“Instead, economic, political and social exclusion has encouraged the development of racism, negative ethnicity, gender discrimination and pessimism for the youth. The failure of national leadership has undermined real possibilities of creating a just and peaceful nation characterized by respect for human life, property and human dignity. It has also failed to facilitate genuine healing and reconciliation after the liberation struggle,” Archbishop Ndlovu affirmed in his address, a copy of which was sent to Agenzia Fides.
From a political standpoint, South African President Thabo Mbeki has traveled to Harare to help facilitate the establishment of an accord between President Mugabe and the leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai. The difficult mediation effort led to a preliminary accord signed on July 21 (see Fides 21 and 22 July 2008). The President of the Zimbabwean Bishops’ Conference sees this accord as positive and says that “we, as the Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe have followed these developments with deep interest and concern. We have prayed over the matter and reflected in order to offer our advice, to contribute to the solution of the crisis and to offer hope for our nation.”
Archbishop Ndlovu is hopeful in light of the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Z.A.N.U. P.F. (i.e. President Mugabe) and the two formations of the MDC (the opposition party). “We hope that the leaders are genuine when they say that they dedicate themselves ‘to putting an end to the polarization, divisions, conflict and intolerance that have characterized our country’s politics’ and that they are ‘determined to build a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality.’”
However, the Archbishop of Harare asks that the MOU be placed into effect immediately, especially in all that concerns political violence. One of the points of the agreement calls for the dismantling of institutions of violence.
Archbishop Ndlovu mentions the fact that members of some parties are still in detention and some being harassed for supporting some political parties. “This needs to stop immediately,” the Archbishop of Harare explained, pointing out that “it is still difficult and impossible in some areas for the church to render such help to displaced persons,” due to the political violence.
The Church intends to continue offering its own contribution in the form of humanitarian aid, works of national reconciliation, affirmation of the basic ethical principles, and prayer, the President of the Zimbabwean Bishops’ Conference said in closing his address. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2008)
