81st IMBISA Standing Committee Meeting in Harare
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The 81st Standing Committee Meeting of IMBISA took place from 27th to 28th March 2025 in Harare. We gathered in prayer and reflection to address important matters facing our region and to plan for the future of the Church’s mission in Southern Africa.
The central focus of our discussions was the preparations for the IMBISA 14th Plenary Assembly, scheduled to take place in Manzini, Eswatini, from 24th- 29th September 2025. This gathering will be particularly significant, as it will coincide with the 50th anniversary of IMBISA. We eagerly anticipate this milestone, which marks half a century of IMBISA’s commitment to unity, service, and witness across our region.
We also discussed the importance of establishing a formal relationship between IMBISA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in order to strengthen our collective efforts toward peace, justice, and development in the region.
The bishops expressed concern over the ongoing post-election violence in Mozambique, the rising levels of corruption and unemployment in the region, and the withdrawal of USAID funding, which has a detrimental impact on the services in the Church’s institutions. 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.
On a more positive note, we celebrated the peaceful transfer of power in some of the countries in our region following the national elections in 2024. We congratulate all those who are elected, ensuring a peaceful transition of leadership. This is a strong testament to the resilience of the democratic process. We also commend the election of the first female president in our region in Namibia.
As we prepare for the 14th Plenary Assembly and the 50th anniversary celebrations of IMBISA, we ask for your continued prayers. May God guide our efforts to build a more united and effective Church, and may our leaders be inspired to serve their people with justice, integrity, and a commitment to the common good.
God bless you all.
Signed in Harare on 29 March 2025
Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda OMI
IMBISA President