We were delighted to hear from Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM who wrote to IMBISA in reaction to the series On synodal journey for 50 years regarding the first plenary assembly in Harare in 1984. In his email, he wrote, “thank you for reminding us of the history-making event in Harare.”
At the time of the plenary, Cardinal Napier writes, he was “a young bishop of three years only”, having been ordained Bishop of Kokstad on 29 November 1980. He related how the Standing Committee of which he became a member by the elections held at that plenary “spent most of its term completing the Statutes of IMBISA but also setting up the Office in Harare.”
Cardinal Napier, who at the 1984 plenary was the SACBC bishop who gave the situational report on the Church and states of Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana, expressed this prayer and blessing over the current office bearing bishops of IMBISA:
May he continue to bless those currently carrying the IMBISA flag as we prepare to celebrate 50 years of fantastic cooperation and progress in faith and ministry.
On 21 February 2001, he was elevated to Cardinal and participated in the conclave of 2005 where Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected and became Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Napier also participated in the conclave in 2013, which elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio who became Pope Francis.
IMBISA Secretariat remains indebted to Cardinal Napier for his part in building IMBISA and we wish him a blessed retirement and happy gardening!
The Standing Committee elected at the plenary of 1984
President: Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves of Beira
Vice President: Bishop Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM of Kokstad
Episcopal Secretary: Bishop Patrick Mumbure Mutume, Auxililary Bishop of Mutare (ZCBC Representative)
Representatives:
CEAST – Bishop Francisco Viti of Menongue
CEM – Bishop Januario Nhangumbe of Pemba
LCBC – Bishop Paul Khoarai of Leribe
SACBC – Bishop Johannes Brenninkmeijer OP of Kroonstad
As the Episcopal Secretary of IMBISA, Bishop Mutume, was from ZCBC, the bishops at the 1984 plenary assembly decided that the secretariat was to move to Harare at the invitation of ZCBC. 2025 is the 40th year of the secretariat in Zimbabwe.
The current Standing Committee elected at the plenary of 2022 in Windhoek
IMBISA Standing Committee Troika at their election in Windhoek, September 2022:
Archbishop Liborius Nashenda, President (centre), Archbishop Jose Manuel Imbamba, Vice-President (left), Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro, General Secretary (right)
President: Archbishop Liborius Nashenda OMI of Windhoek
Vice-President: Archbishop Jose Manuel Imbamba of Saurimo
General Secretary: Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro of Gweru
Media: Bishop José Luis Ponce de León of Manzini
Representatives:
CEAST – Bishop Dionísio Hisiilenapo of Namibe
CEM – Bishop Juliasse Sandramo of Pemba
LCBC – Bishop John Tlhomola SCP of Mohale’s Hoek
NCBC – Bishop Willem Christiaans OSFS of Keetmanshoop
SACBC – Bishop Siphiwo Vanqa SAC of Queenstown
ZCBC – Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa CSsR of Masvingo
IMBISA is holding its 81st Standing Committee meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe from 27-29 March 2025, ending the meeting with a special mass of thanksgiving for its fifty years of existence in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Harare on Saturday, 29 March
The current Standing Committee during a meeting in Luanda, Angola with some Secretariat staff
2025 at 9am. One of the chief matters under discussion at this SCM is the final preparation for the plenary session in Manzini in September.
Sources
IMBISA. 1984. Inter-regional meeting of Bishop of Southern Africa. First Plenary Assembly. 22-26 August 1984. Chishawasha Harare Zimbabwe Africa. IMBISA, Manzini.
On synodal journey for 50 years
In celebration of the golden jubilee of IMBISA, formed in 1975, we publish snippets of history once a week.