Vatican News English Africa Service

“Of late, incidences of violence have become common such as the destruction of property, abductions, messages with a tribal tone and worse still, the shedding of blood,” said the Bishops in a recent Pastoral Statement. The Bishops’ message was issued collectively under the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB).

The Bishops add, “We appeal to all political contestants to refrain from acts of violence, hate speech and malice, but to show cause why they should be elected.”

The 12 August General Elections

General elections will be held in Zambia on 12 August 2021 to elect the President and National Assembly.

The leading Presidential contenders are the incumbent, President Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and Opposition leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema.

Allow people to choose leaders without intimidation

The acts of violence are intended to intimidate the citizenry from choosing leaders of their choice, say the Bishops. “On the contrary, people should be free to belong to a party of their choice and to choose a candidate or candidates of their preference, without undue influence,” affirmed the prelates.

“The forthcoming elections are not the first nor the last in the history of our country. Therefore, these elections should not be marred with bloodshed. Because there is life before, during and after the elections. Let us be considerate and respectful of each other. All life is sacred,” the ZCCB members emphasised.

Church leaders must stay impartial

The Bishops further cautioned members of the clergy and those in church leadership to stay the course of impartiality.

“We are not kingmakers … In this country, leadership comes through the ballot box. We wish to encourage each other to be impartial as we guide and shepherd those entrusted to our care,” said the Bishops.

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Fr. Paul Samasumo – Vatican City.

On the first day of the Plenary, Monday, the president of SACBC, Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka of the Diocese of Umtata, thanked the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Peter Wells, for conveying to the Holy Father the disturbing social unrest that engulfed Southern African countries of Eswatini and South Africa.

Pope Francis’ call for peaceful collaboration

“Thank you for conveying to the Holy Father the disturbing and life-threatening situations in the two Conference countries, eSwatini and South Africa and the subsequent message of the Holy Father calling for peaceful collaboration in solving these problems. We appreciate very much this pastoral solicitude from the Holy Father,” Bishop Sipuka told the Apostolic Nuncio, who was also participating in the online plenary.

The exemplary work of pastoral agents

Referencing some of the challenges Southern African countries are grappling with, Bishop Sipuka thanked priests and pastoral workers who have continued to minister, in creative ways, during constraining times of Covid-19. Some of the priests, religious and pastoral workers have, in the process, contracted the coronavirus and succumbed to it.

“Our plenary meeting is taking place in the context of unrelenting attack of Covid-19 infections, increasing unemployment, social destabilisation in South Africa and political revolution in eSwatini. Luckily, in Botswana, there appears to be no crisis of pronounced nature yet. On the side of the Church, its life and work has been going on but hampered by the situation of Covid-19,” said the prelate of Umtata.

The Big man syndrome of politics and the Church

On the political situation of Eswatini and South Africa, Bishop Sipuka urged the Bishops to add their voices to calls from the street. He said Bishops should join calls seeking justice and accountability for the violence and looting in the two countries. The Bishop criticised what he termed as the Big man syndrome in political governance. He warned, however, that the Church was not immune to the Big man syndrome, which presents itself as clericalism.

Holistic and not piecemeal development 

“We need to ride the wave of this moment to demand serious economic upliftment of the poor majority instead of piecemeal grants. I am not sure exactly what those areas of upliftment would be, maybe our Justice and Peace Department could identify them, but education and rural development appear to be the most urgent, given that about 63% of young people (in South Africa) are not employed,” urged the SABC President.

Tribute to South Africa’s great musicians 

“During this year, we also lost a number of artists in South Africa, Sibongile Khumalo, Jonas Gwangwa, Tsepo Tshola, Steve Kekana and recently a film producer Shona Ferguson. With their gifts of singing and creativity, these artists helped us give expression to our human emotions of joy and sorrow. They lifted our spirits and soothed our souls, enabling us to get in touch with the deepest parts ourselves. With music and drama, they communicated messages beyond words. We thank God for the rare gift of these artists with which they brought us together as a nation in song and drama. May their souls rest in peace,” Bishop Sipuka said.

Vatican News (paul.samasumo@spc.va)

Agenzia Fides – Juba, South Sudan.

The two were victims of an ambush along South Sudan’s Juba-Nimule highway on 16 August. Sr Mary Daniel Abut and Sr Regina Roba were part of a group of nine sisters travelling together in a mini-bus when gunmen attacked them.

Unknown gunmen killed the nuns

“Our former Superior General, Sr. Mary Daniel Abut, who served the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from 2006 to 2018, and Sr. Regina Roba were killed cold-bloodedly on their way back to Juba after celebrations of the centenary of the parish of the Assumption of Our Lady,” narrated Sister Amaa.

Following the ambush by unknown armed men, says Sister Amaa, the sisters “tried to escape and hid in the surrounding bushes.” The criminals managed to find the two nuns and killed them in cold blood.

Five days of mourning

The Archdiocese of Juba has announced five days of mourning throughout the diocese.

“On behalf of the Administration of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, I wish to inform the public that all Catholic ecclesial institutions (universities, seminaries, colleagues, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba will be closed for four days to commemorate the late Sister Mary and Sister Regina from today 17 August until 20 August. Work will resume on 23 August,” reads a statement from Fr. Samuel Abe, Secretary-General of the Archdiocese of Juba.

Sister Mary Daniel was the headmistress of the Usra Tuna School in Juba. Sister Regina was a tutor and administrator at the Catholic Health Training Institute (CHTI) in the Catholic Diocese of Wau.

The Requiem Mass and burial will take place on 20 August at the parish of the Cathedral of St Theresa-Kator.

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