10th Plenary Assembly – 2013
The tenth plenary assembly of IMBISA took place in Gaborone, Botswana from 11 to 15 November 2013.
Professor Ranga Zinyemba, rector of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe and his wife, Dr. Alice Zinyemba led the bishops in workshops around the theme of the plenary, The African family today: the family is the sanctuary of life and a vital cell of society and of the Church.
IMBISA serious about family
Professor Zinyemba noted that over the past two decades the bishops of IMBISA gave special focus to the family in their plenary deliberations. The 1995 plenary in Windhoek reflected on the subject Church and family in Southern Africa.
At the end of the workshops with the Zinyemba couple, who have five children and six grandchildren, the bishops said that the family is and must remain the basic building block of society and church.
3-Year family plan
Having listened to the addresses on the topic of Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Mario Cassari and Vice-President of Botswana, Dr. Ponatshego Kedikilwe, the bishops drew up an IMBISA family action plan to last from 2014 to 2016.
Apostolic Nuncio Mario Cassari (left) enjoying a light moment with Archbishop Stephen Brislin (Photo: bhubesi.blogspot.com)
Accordingly, Church and families will work together to strengthen family ministry in each diocese in the region. They will also engage governments and public authorities in the various countries of the region advocating for the promulgation of pro-family legislation.
A real communion of bishops
Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, who presided and preached at the opening mass of the plenary, gave an overview of what IMBISA has done over the years. He said that IMBISA had created a real, effective and affective unity and communion among bishops in Southern Africa.
Strategic decisions
In his presidential report, Bishop Frank Nubuasah, raised the suggestion of the Standing Committee, that the house of the director be sold to settle IMBISA’s debt. Bishops voted in favour of the suggestion.
The plenary worked out a strategic plan according to which the main offices of the Secretariat were to be rented out to add as a source of income. The Secretariat with a radically reduced staff would take up a smaller building on the same property.
The suggestion that the Secretariat be relocated to another country where it will be financially easier to do its work because of the difficult economic circumstances of Zimbabwe did not result in a decision to that regard.
The 11th plenary assembly in 2016 would take place in Maseru, Lesotho, by invitation of the president of LCBC, Archbishop Gerard Lerotholi.
Elections
The plenary assembly elected as
- President Bishop Frank Nubuasah, SVD of Francistown, SACBC
- Vice President Bishop Lucio Andrice Muandula of Xai-Xai, CEM, and
- Secretary General Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare, ZCBC.
Sources
IMBISA. 2013. 10th Plenary Assembly of IMBISA. 11 – 15 November 2013, Gaborone, Botswana. Harare: IMBISA.
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.