The sub-regional consultative meeting of the Catholic bishops from Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe is set to take place from 15 to 19 July 2024 to discuss “various challenges” within the continent of Africa such as inequality, and concerns around the environment.
By Sr. Titilayo Aduloju, SSMA
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) will meet for their sub-regional meeting in Salima, Malawi.
Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of Malawi’s Lilongwe Archdiocese and the President of ECM, on 30 September 202 announced that “The Sub-Saharan Conference provides a platform for Bishops to exchange ideas, share experiences and collaborate on initiatives that promote unity, spiritual growth and social justice within communities.”
He also said the conference will provide opportunities for the bishops to deliberate on the theme “Building Bridges: Strengthening Faith, Unity, and Service,”.
Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of Malawi’s Lilongwe Archdiocese and the President of ECM
The aim of the meeting
According to the President of ECM, the conference will “provide a platform for Bishops to come together, fostering unity among different regions and promoting collaboration on common issues”.
The sub-regional conferences will address ‘essential subjects’ related to faith, community, and the difficulties they encounter in the region, he added.
There will be conversations on the Bible, current issues communities are facing, and how to enhance pastoral leadership, networking, and cooperation between bishops and participants.
“This conference plays a vital role in fostering dialogue and strengthening the bonds among the three conferences across the region,” Archbishop Tambala stressed.
Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe Bishops with Zambian Republican President
Preparations for the conference
In preparation for this conference, the President of ECM said “Workshops and training sessions will be conducted to equip participants with tools for effective ministry”.
He has directed the national organizing committee to collaborate with all diocesan committees to generate funds from well-wishers to aid the forthcoming event.
Previous meeting outcomes
The bishops attended their first combined gathering in February 2020 in Lusaka, Zambia, where they discussed the creation of a new regional body of bishops that would include the three nations.
They decided that for the time being, Zimbabwe will be a member of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), while Malawi and Zambia will continue to be members of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa
