Catholic bishops from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a sub-regional Catholic bishops’ conference to address shared challenges. This new body, named the Association of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (ACBC-MAZAZI), will separate the three national conferences from their current regional affiliations: Malawi and Zambia from the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and Zimbabwe from the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA).

The decision, finalized at the July 14-19 meeting of the sub-regional Conference of Catholic Bishops, follows initial discussions held in February 2020. Although no timeline has been provided for the operationalization of ACBC-MAZAZI, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of Lilongwe, Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, emphasized the importance of this sub-regional conference in addressing the significant issues affecting the three nations.

Among the critical issues identified are secularism, the breakdown of traditional family structures, poverty, and environmental degradation. Archbishop Tambala highlighted poverty as a severe challenge, describing it as “the wolf the Church should not stay quiet about.” He pointed out the dire economic conditions in the region, noting that over 70 percent of Malawi’s population lives below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day, while poverty affects 60 percent of Zambia’s population and about 45 percent in Zimbabwe.

The archbishop detailed the impact of poverty on communities, including widespread food insecurity, lack of access to education and healthcare, and a general sense of hopelessness among the youth. He stressed the Church’s role in addressing these issues and defending the African family against negative foreign influences and secularism.

Bishop Paul Horan, President of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC), echoed Tambala’s concerns, describing the pervasive sense of helplessness due to unemployment and abject poverty. He emphasized the need for the Church to protect its flock from the detrimental effects of individualism and materialism, which he described as “the wolf that is in front of us.”

The bishops collectively underscored the urgency of their mission, highlighting the need for a united effort to combat the challenges facing their communities and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Africa.

Thank you for reading our article. Subscribe to our magazine, *New People*, to stay informed and updated.