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Rift hits Catholics
The Herald
July 12, 2004

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=33685&pubdate=2004-07-12

A RIFT has emerged in the Roman Catholic Church in Zimbabwe over the recent appointment of Hwange Bishop Robert Ndlovu as the new archbishop for Harare.

Sisters and members of the church are of the view that the position should have been taken by a bishop from one of the suffragan dioceses of Harare and not from Bulawayo province.

Pope John Paul II last month appointed Bishop Ndlovu to replace Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa, who died last year. The new appointment means that Zimbabwe’s two archbishops are both from Matabeleland since Archbishop Pius Ncube of the Bulawayo Diocese also hails from the same region.

Some devout Catholics from the Mashonaland provinces view the appointment of Archbishop Ndlovu, who was previously based in Hwange, as a slap in the face.

The concerned church members are questioning the rationale of appointing someone from Matabeleland to head the Harare archdiocese sidelining suitable candidates from Mashonaland, Masvingo or Manicaland capable of performing the same duties.

They argued that other provinces had candidates more qualified to replace the late Archbishop Chakaipa and these included Father Kizito Mhembere, Father Walter Nyatsanza, Father Fidelis Mukonori and Bishop Michael Bhasera of Masvingo.

Some influential and concerned Catholics have written a letter to the Pope’s representative in Zimbabwe, the Right Rev Adams, expressing their displeasure over the appointment of Archbishop Ndlovu.

The letter is copied to the president of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Bhasera, and the ZCBC secretary.

Reliable sources said the concerned church members were planning to write a petition to Pope John Paul II protesting so that he would rescind his decision.

They were also particularly incensed by comments that were made by the former director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe, Mr Mike Auret, who was quoted by the World Church News (The Tablet) as saying: "Ndlovu is certainly the only black who could possibly take the position . . . a learned man . . . a quiet and modest person."

Father Nigel Johnson, a Jesuit priest based in Bulawayo, was quoted by the same publication as saying the fact that the State media in Zimbabwe had not reported on the appointment of Archbishop Ndlovu suggested that the Government was not happy and that "Rome might, therefore, have got it right and appointed the best man for the job".

The allegation by Father Johnson on the public media not reporting on Archbishop Ndlovu’s elevation is incorrect as it was covered by The Sunday Mail.

According to the World Church News, Catholics in Zimbabwe were hoping that Archbishop Ndlovu would be able to take a critical stance against the Government than his predecessor.

Part of the letter to the Pope’s representative reads: "Now reading between the lines, one can safely con-clude that the thinking behind the two white brothers in Christ (Father Johnson and Mr Auret) suggests that all black clergy in Mashonaland regions are not suitable candidates for appointment to the post of Archbishop in Harare.

"We believe the appointment of the Archbishop should have put aside the politics of the day, racism, regionalism, tribalism . . . in fact, the comments are likely to adversely dent the effect of the new Archbishop’s performance in the Mashonaland regions."

A senior sister at the Harare Diocese said they were totally against the appointment of Archbishop Ndlovu.

"It is such a sensitive issue as we cannot discuss it in the open. The Ndebele and Shona cultures are so different, so how are we going to relate to the new Archbishop?" she asked.

"It is so painful and if there were no suitable bishops to take up the post from Mashonaland regions, why were other bishops from Manicaland or Masvingo provinces not considered?"

Her sentiments were echoed by a Cabinet minister, a devout Catholic, who said the issue was not tribalism or regionalism, but it was only fair that the new Archbishop should have come from Mashonaland, Manicaland or Masvingo regions.

"We have a handful of candidates in Mashonaland region who are more senior than Archbishop Ndlovu who was ordained in 1984. Why were these sidelined?" said the minister, who refused to be named.

"Furthermore, the Shona and Ndebele cultures for burying the dead are very different and so how is Archbishop Ndlovu going to relate to the congregation on such issues?"

The minister said Catholics in Harare would strongly protest until the appointment of Archbishop Ndlovu has been reversed.

A senior civil servant, who is also a Catholic, said the decision by the Pope could be revoked as this had happened before in countries such as Malawi and Mozambique.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from Monsignor Adams for the whole of last week failed.

Her secretary last Thursday said the Pope’s representative wanted the reporter to fax the questions and this was done, but there was no response although the secretary acknowledged receiving the fax.

The Herald was reliably informed that Monsignor Adams was seeking advice from some bishops on how to handle the issue.

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