By Paschal Norbert
HARARE, APRIL 4, 2025 (CISA) – The Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) is preparing for its 50th-anniversary celebrations in Manzini, Eswatini, against a backdrop of pressing regional concerns, including the withdrawal of USAID funding and post-election challenges.
At the recently concluded 81st Standing Committee Meeting held from March 27-28 in Harare, IMBISA bishops gathered in prayer and reflection to strategize on the future of the Church’s mission in Southern Africa. A key agenda item was the preparation for the 14th Plenary Assembly, scheduled for September 24-29, 2025, in Manzini. This assembly will be particularly significant as it coincides with IMBISA’s golden jubilee.
“The gathering will mark half a century of IMBISA’s commitment to unity, service, and witness across our region,” the bishops said in a statement signed by Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda of Windhoek, Namibia, the IMBISA President.
However, the meeting was also overshadowed by concerns over the withdrawal of USAID funding, which has negatively affected Church-run institutions. Additionally, the bishops raised alarm over post-election violence in Mozambique, increasing levels of corruption and unemployment, and the need for strengthened governance structures.
“We continue to pray for peace and good governance and the well-being of all people in our region, echoing the teachings of Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Sì,” the statement read.
Despite these challenges, the bishops commended recent democratic progress, including the peaceful transition of power in some Southern African nations and the historic election of the first female president in Namibia.
IMBISA also discussed the importance of establishing a formal relationship with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to reinforce efforts toward regional peace, justice, and development.
Founded in 1975, IMBISA serves as a platform for collaboration among Catholic bishops from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The organization aims to foster unity among episcopal conferences and advance the Church’s mission in addressing social, political, and economic challenges in the region.
As preparations for the 50th-anniversary celebrations continue, IMBISA calls for prayers and support to ensure a united and impactful Church in Southern Africa.
