IMBISA Wraps Up 50 Years Celebration In Eswatini

By Thokozani Mazibuko

THE Interregional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) Golden Jubilee Mass Celebration wrapped up on Sunday after a successful gathering that saw Archbishops from across the region descend to the kingdom.

IMBISA, which is an organ of liaison and pastoral cooperation between the Roman Catholic Bishops, whose main aim is its mandate of creating communion of best practices in each member country, celebrated 50 years of existence.

This saw a delegation of over 70 bishops from nine IMBISA member countries, namely, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé e Príncipe, South Africa and Zimbabwe, convening in the country to celebrate the IMBISA Golden Jubilee.

Archbishop Raymond Mupandasekwa Masvingo from the Diocese Zimbabwe said the decision to celebrate in Eswatini was deliberate as they sought to return where it all started in order to perhaps rediscover the spirit of their founding fathers, which drove them to come together at such a difficult time of racial discrimination, when also the cry for freedom could be heard on the lips of the oppressed majority.

He said they have come to listen again to the same Spirit of the Lord who blew so powerfully on these fathers as at Pentecost, moving their minds and hearts to add their voice to the voices of the oppressed, the politically and economically excluded, giving a divine inspiration to what the people were to fight for.

Masvingo said the IMBISA fathers were clear about the need for political leaders to pay attention to political freedom as a means to achieve universal fraternity and social peace, bearing in mind the principle of the universal destination of all goods.

“We come to this moment of celebration here in Eswatini to look back with gratitude, reflecting on the path that was trodden, grasping its gifts and its lessons, and rededicating ourselves to the Spirit who is leading us into the future,” he said.

He said they came together, accompanied by one of the founding fathers, Archbishop Zacarias Kamwenho, who was here in Eswatini with them to rediscover the joy of believing.

“Our celebration of the jubilee, hence, is not just a celebration of the passage of time (50 years), but the joy of believing in a God who led our founding fathers through trials and tribulations to this jubilee moment in order to make a deeper commitment to serving Him and his people. It is a moment of rededication to living our faith now and into the future,” he said.

IMBISA was officially constituted in 1978 to connect Bishops’ Conferences and enable better communication between the regions. Today, almost half a century since its inception, IMBISA continues to connect the Southern African Church.

It connects The Southern African Church across vast distances. It shares stories of particular relevance to Catholics in the region.

IMBISA also helps communities to stand in solidarity with one another. It inspires unity and provides a shared identity through ongoing communication.

Masvingo said that as they re-dedicate themselves to living their faith with greater vigour, they should recognise that the gaining of political freedom was supported, but the founding of IMBISA has not brought with it the anticipated outcomes.

He stated that it was Nelson Mandela who once said, “Our freedom can never be complete or our democracy stable unless the basic needs of our people are met.”

Masvingo said that as IMBISA, they return to Eswatini to accept the challenge of making their governments see that the basic needs of their people have not yet been met.

“We have to accept the challenge of making our governments more accountable. Some of our leaders are blind to the destitution of our people, and to the plight of Lazarus, who lies skin and bones on the streets, unable to access what is even reserved for the house dogs,” Masvingo said.

He said they needed to add weight to the cries against corruption, the scourge that has destroyed their economies, giving the wealth of their countries to foreign powers.

Masvingo pointed out that there was a lesson that came from their 50 year history, which sometimes made them uncomfortable.

He stated that it was their silence in trying moments of member states and member conferences, that may be a sign that the inter-regional meeting must evolve into a conference that takes up greater responsibility to what was happening in the region and to its members.

Masvingo mentioned that the synodal path that they have been invited to, demands that they discern how best they can be more effective.
He said it was Martin Luther King who said, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.”

“We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now,” he stated.

He said in this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there was such a thing as being too late.

“This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action. How can IMBISA become more vigorous and more positive in its action in the service of reconciliation, justice and peace?” he asked.