IMBISA: We dare to dream of a peaceful Southern Africa

By: +Lucio Andrice Muandula
Bishop of Xai-Xai, Mozambique
President of IMBISA

To: Bishops, Clergy, People of God in the IMBISA Region and all people of goodwill:

  1. We, the members of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) Standing Committee (representing Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe, South Africa (Republic of) and Zimbabwe) met in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 27th April 2021 so as to assess and reflect on the socio-political and ecclesial situation in Southern Africa. In the shared reflections it became clear that the Southern African Region is going through a difficult period which, as is our hope, can be improved through the efforts of all people of goodwill in the Region and beyond.

  2. In particular, we reflected on the unfortunate developments in the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique, especially in the town of Palma, which came under attack recently with the resultant loss of human life and livelihoods. The displacement of over half a million citizens in the Cabo Delgado Province has meant that many residents have been unable to enjoy a normal life where they can raise their children in peace and tranquillity. The aged too, having spent many years in that land, have been uprooted and forced to flee. This means that they cannot enjoy the beauty of old age which allows them to keep a certain relationship with the land in which they grew up.

  3. We also reflected on the situation of the general population in the region, especially on the difficulties faced by young people. Some have gone for long periods without school instruction due to the restrictions occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as learning moved online in some cases, the Covid-19 pandemic has simply revealed the problems of systemic inequalities in the economic sphere in our different countries with the poorer young people unable to access these online platforms. Some young people were left behind as those from more affluent societies easily forged ahead with their education. The problem of inequality, especially in the economic sphere, has left many young people exposed to exploitation by those who foment violence and other social ills. As a result of a certain disenfranchisement, some young people have tended to migrate so as to eke out a living elsewhere, far from home and their normal surroundings.

  4. The matters indicated above offend against the dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). The right to life is sacrosanct and should thus be protected, promoted and preserved at all times. Related to the basic right to life is the right for a people to live in peace where they can freely enjoy the fruits of the earth. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen. 1:29). While the right not to emigrate is upheld, it is also proper to uphold the rights and dignity of persons who have, for one reason or another, chosen to emigrate (cf. Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, Nos. 38 &139).

  5. Despite the dark moments stated above, it is also proper for us to indicate some positive developments on some of the aforementioned matters:

    1. We applaud the recent statement issued by the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique condemning the violence in Cabo Delgado.

    2. We appreciate the positive efforts by the Church and other bodies who continually assist the victims of violence in that Region. In particular, we wish to express our support and prayers for the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Pemba and Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo António Juliasse Sandramo, for his continuous accompaniment of all those affected by the conflict.

    3. We are also encouraged by the efforts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to find a lasting solution to the problems engulfing that Region.

  1. Notwithstanding the aforementioned positive elements, we also wish to appeal and invite to the following:

    1. We call upon the SADC and the African Union to be more engaged in addressing the unfolding crisis in that Region.

    2. We also call upon the Mozambican Government to spare no effort in engaging the International Community so as to address the violence in Cabo Delgado which has unfortunately led to the loss of lives and livelihoods.

    3. We further call upon our governments in the Region to rethink the economic systems that have all along been implemented as they have not succeeded in addressing the economic inequalities currently prevailing. Young people must be at the centre of every economic development in the countries of the Region.

  1. We are still within the fifty days in which we celebrate the joy of the risen Lord and as such look forward to the promised Consoler and Counsellor, the Holy Spirit who leads us to the whole truth (cf. John 16:13). The Easter Season fills us with much hope that indeed all these difficulties can be overcome and addressed. We thus invite all Christians and all people of goodwill to continue searching and walking together for peace like St. Francis of Assisi who “did not wage a war of words…he simply spread the love of God” (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti No. 4). We dare to dream of a peaceful Southern Africa. “Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home” (ibid, No. 8).

27 April 2021

Praying for healing

 By Bishop José Luis IMC

(On 11 February 2021, I presided Mass for the feast
of Our Lady of Lourdes – live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Below is part of the homily)

The virus seems to be everything we can see in this moment. I would like to invite you to look deeper. To me, the virus has been like a magnifying glass revealing an unhealthy society. To avoid being too long, let me just point out a few things to help you understand what I am talking about. You could add your own: Continue reading “Praying for healing”

Being dressed for action

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

On 20 October 2020, the clergy of the diocese came together at Our Lady of the Assumption for the first time in this year marked by COVID19. Below, the first part of my homily.

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The readings we have just heard have not been especially chosen for this celebration but are the readings of the day and, therefore, part of the continuous reading of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians and the Gospel of Luke.

I kept them because I felt they have a message for us today as we come together for the very first time during this 2020 COVID19 year.

I would like to present three images I see in them: Continue reading “Being dressed for action”

Thanks to you the people are now relying on what is false!

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

Our diocese has a number of WhatsApp groups. Many of them added the bishop as soon as the group was created. It is not easy for me to follow them but, every now and then, I do read the messages trying my best not to interfere and allow everyone to freely share on a topic.

Fake news, though, has been one of those cases where I struggle to keep quiet.

Not long ago, a member of the Catholic men’s group shared news with this title: “We are at the end of times”. It then said: “Pope Francis cancels the Bible and proposes to create a new book”. He himself never believed it but felt important to share it and open a dialogue. Someone, in fact, confirmed that members of other churches had shared their sadness and horror at the Pope’s decision.

A question arose regarding what to do about it. Continue reading “Thanks to you the people are now relying on what is false!”

Let us not live the present waiting to return to the past

by Bp Jose Luis IMC

Pastoral letter to the diocese of Manzini

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“The Word became flesh”
“Livi laba yinyama”


Ascension of the Lord

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gathered the apostles and sent them to the whole world to make disciples, baptise, teach… (Mt 28:19). Not sure you noticed but that is all He said. No details. How would they do that? Who would have to do what? The apostles never asked either. They never knew what they would have to face but they trusted in Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) “You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:8).

Continue reading “Let us not live the present waiting to return to the past”

Rekindling hope

by SACBC Justice and Peace Commission

During the Holy week and Easter, Catholic bishops in South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini have used the social media platforms to preach the Risen Christ and inspire hope in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. For the benefit of those without access to social media, we present a selected collection. 

Bishop Duncan Tsoke – During the Covid-19 crisis, do not be afraid, God is still in charge

It has now been several weeks since our country, like many
others around the world, decided to do a lockdown as a response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Although separated during the lockdown, we are called to remain united in faith and to be in solidarity with the most vulnerable among us, the homeless, the elderly, the orphans, the migrants and refugees, domestic violence survivors and all the neglected. Our faith in Christ can sustain and empower us through this difficult and trying times. The Spirit of God calls on all us to believe that our God is in charge even in these chaotic and frightening times. Faith in the Resurrection is the sure sign that God is still in charge. Continue reading “Rekindling hope”

Bishop’s statement on Covid-19

by Diocesan Media

Brothers and sisters, the church today is in exile. We live our lives without actively participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice which is the highest form of our worship. The Christian community has chosen to live its life away from communal prayer in order not to spread this Virus.

This choice does not mean that the Christian community is afraid of sickness or of death. It does not mean that the church is blindly obeying civil authorities. The decision of the church is rooted in the Church’s understanding of the value of human life.

Below is Bishop Jose Luis IMC’s statement, following the “Declaration of national emergency in response to coronavirus” issued by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, with directives for the Diocese of Manzini. Continue reading “Bishop’s statement on Covid-19”

Cardinal Turkson Addresses Church Leaders on Coronavirus

Source: zenit.org

To the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences,
To the Bishops in Charge of Health Pastoral Ministry
To the Socio-Sanitary and Pastoral Operators,
To the Civil Authorities
To the Sick and Their Families,
To the Volunteers and to All Persons of Good Will,

Peace be with you!

We are living days of intense preoccupation and growing anxiety, days in which human fragility and the vulnerability of the presumed technical security are undermined at the global level by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), before which all the most significant activities are bowing, as the economy, entrepreneurship, work, trips, tourism, sport, and even worship, and its infection also limits notably freedom of space and movement. The Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development wishes to unite itself to the voice of the Holy Father, thus renewing the Church’s closeness in the animation of the Health Pastoral to all those suffering from the infection of COVID-19, to the victims and their families, as well as to all health workers committed on the front line, deepening every energy in caring for the people affected and in bringing them relief. Continue reading “Cardinal Turkson Addresses Church Leaders on Coronavirus”