AFRICA/ANGOLA - “Corruption puts the brakes on development” says Archbishop of Lubango during celebrations for 30 years of Angola’s independence

Tuesday, 15 November 2005

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Luanda (Fides Service)- “Development is another name for peace” said Archbishop Zacarias Kamwenho of Lubango quoting Pope Paul VI’s famous words. The Archbishop said this in his homily during a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the 30th anniversary of Angola’s independence (see Fides 11 November 2005) on 10 November in the cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Mbanza Congo diocese where the evangelisation of the country began.
Taking stock of 30 years of independence Archbishop Kamwenho urged those present to be objective and stigmatised both excessive optimism and “ango-pessimism”. He said the road to take is that of recognition of one’s mistakes and readiness to correct them. “Many times the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and Sao Tomé CEAST has pinpointed the errors or even sins for which we must repent if we want to work for development. The most serious sin is corruption” he said.
Among the evils which put the brakes on development in Angola, Archbishop Kamwenho also mentioned the flow of capital abroad and “insensibility of the new rich who grabbed farms of former colonials leaving the people in dire poverty”.
“Consequently no one is excused from working for the country’s development” said the Archbishop of Lubango, endorsing the call from the President of Angola to guarantee the completion of the 2005-2006 development programme, “because development is another name for peace” the Archbishop said quoting the famous words of Pope Paul VI.
It is significant that the call was launched from Mbanza Congo. Capital of the old Kingdom of Congo and see of the first diocese in Sub-Saharan Africa created in 1596.
“I endorse what Pope John Paul II said here on 8 June 1992: I am deeply moved to walk here in Mbanza Congo. Here Christianity has a long history of 5 centuries. Here Christianity has a tradition which has its roots in the shadows of the past and in actions which were amazingly bold. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/11/2005 righe 31 parole 364)