“Repent” of Policies, Strategies Behind “deficit of hope”: Zimbabwe Bishops’ Lent Message

“The decision by the government to raise taxes at a time when ordinary people can hardly afford a meal a day has worsened the family situation. For the majority of the elderly and the poor in particular, it has become unbearably expensive to live. Prices of basic commodities are increasingly expensive,” ZCBC members say.

They add that unsettled political disputes arising from the August 2023 polls “have not left the country in a good space.”

“Locally, there are fears among people that we are moving towards a one-party state, with democracy dying a slow death,” they note.

The Catholic Church leaders, who are members of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) say that “regionally, there remains a belief that we can resolve these political challenges if we are willing to put our heads together as people of goodwill.” 

ZCBC members say they find it regrettable that “whereas some of these ills are a result of natural disasters, most of them are 'man-made' and are not accidental.”

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They appeal for a reflective approach, saying, “With all our good intentions to be beacons of hope, we also need to reflect on what has gotten our country and world to where it is.”

The Catholic Church leaders call upon Christians to come together in prayer as one of the ways of “finding solutions” to the country’s challenges.

“Prayer is not an escape from what we see. It is a way of finding solutions to challenges we are grappling with in our world and our country. We all are aware that our challenges can never be resolved by simple intelligent solutions, but essentially by wise solutions,” they say.

ZCBC members appeal for a reflective attitude and emphasize the need to embrace the three theological virtues.

“Reflect on those realities in the light of the Word of God and discern what actions can be taken to improve the situation around you. As we do so, let us take on board the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.”