Namibia had the honour of hosting the fourth plenary assembly of IMBISA at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, from 30 April to 5 May 1995.
The theme of the assembly was Church and Family in Southern Africa after the Synod for Africa. Seventy Bishops from nine Southern African countries investigated ways to renew marriage and family in the midst of present social disruption.
Archbishop Boniface Haushiku, at the opening Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Windhoek on Sunday 30 April, stated clearly the determination of the Bishops of Southern Africa to be “fearless defenders of the poor masses”, including their right to a proper family which the Church sees threatened by economic crises.
Prime Minister Hage Geingob addressed the plenary assembly on 1 May 1995
Prime Minister Hage G Geingob, in his address in the opening session on Monday morning, 1 May 1995, thanked the Church for its stand for justice during the Namibian struggle for liberation and acknowledged that “political ethics needs a spiritual base.”
In a stimulating paper, Bishop Zacarias Kamwenho of Novo Redondo-Sumbe, Angola, on Monday 1 May 1995, emphasized that in African families the binding ties between members could never be broken. A true appreciation of the family implied an understanding of the person in his or her environment. With this in mind, traditional marriage assumed a unique richness as alliance between the families. “Seen in this way, traditional marriage shines in the eyes of all as it came out of the hands of the Creator: monogamous and indissoluble”.
Bishop Zacarias Kamwenho of Novo Redondo from 1975-1995 delivered a lecture to the 4th Plenary Assembly in Windhoek
Dr. Teresa T. Ginindza, a social anthropologist from Swaziland, presented a paper on polygamy in Swazi society in the discussion on marriage and family.
In a press statement on 4 May 1995 the Bishops expressed their “utter horror at reports that conflict and mass murder have once again visited the people of Burundi and Rwanda.”
In their message from IMBISA on abortion, the Bishops said
We call on our political leaders, especially those who have fought for justice, peace and the liberation of their brothers and sisters to continue with similar vigour to secure the basic right to life of the most defenceless of our society.
The Bishops elected Bishop João Francisco Silota, Bishop of Chimoio in Mozambique as the new IMBISA president.
Bishop Francisco Silota of Chimoio from 1990-2017 was elected President of IMBISA at the 4th Plenary Assembly in Windhoek
22 IMBISA staff members attended the plenary, consisting of 5 laypeople, 6 religious sisters, 9 religious and 2 diocesan priests.
Sources
IMBISA. 1995. Minutes: Fourth Plenary Assembly of IMBISA, 29 April – 4 May 1995, Windhoek, Namibia. Theme: Church and Family in Southern Africa – After the Synod for Africa. Harare: IMBISA.
Various press statements.
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.