Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Agenzia Fides) - “We are all guilty, for those who have been victims at one time have been aggressors at another and many more have done nothing in the face of atrocities perpetrated before their eyes. Today, we all need healing from these hurts and from our guilt. This healing will facilitate reconciliation within and among ourselves and also with our Creator. With healing and reconciliation, our nation will recover and set itself up for political, social, cultural and economic development,” say the Bishops of Zimbabwe in a Pastoral Letter entitled “National Healing and Reconciliation.”
In their Pastoral Letter, a copy of which was sent to Agenzia Fides, the Bishops make a detail analysis of the deep roots of these wounds, marking three periods in the history of their country: the pre-colonial era, the colonial era, and the post-colonial era. The Bishops explain: “Each era has its own sources of conflict that can be seen as political, economic, and cultural. However, the different eras have deeply influenced each other. What makes the situation complex is the fact that conflicts that existed before colonialism were used by the colonial system’s divide and rule strategies for the purposes of maintaining power and control, only to have some of the same modes of thinking, strategies and institutions inherited and perpetuated in the post-colonial period.” To heal the present wounds, first the wounds left from the past need to be healed.
The oldest conflicts date back to the pre-colonial period, involving the Ndebele raids on Shona groups. The colonial denomination produced racial discrimination, which “have created feelings of resentment” and hate among the various groups that form the population of Zimbabwe. With the national independence, Zimbabwe has seen an improvement in its own life conditions and a taste of freedom. However, the Bishops say, “However, as a nation, we made mistakes in the euphoria of independence. We forgot to attend to the needs of those who were traumatized by the war especially the ex-combatants. We ignored those who were physically and psychologically devastated by poverty, discrimination and oppression.”
In response to these problems, the Church reaffirms her commitment to contributing to national reconciliation: “As the theme of the Second African Synod encourages us, we commit the Church to be in the service of reconciliation, healing, justice and peace. We urge Government to show political willingness by creating a conducive environment for national healing, reconciliation and integration.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 2/10/2009)
