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Catholic Official Welcomes Partnership to Advance Justice, Peace, and Healing in Zimbabwe

Credit: Catholic Church News Zimbabwe

The Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), describing it as a testament to the Church’s healing mission.

In his address during the signing of the MoU, on September 5, Fr. Tryvis Moyo said the mission of the Church is not “to build a fortress but to be a hospital, where the wounded are healed and the cared for.”

“This MoU stands as a testament to that mission. Together, we commit ourselves to building a society founded on love, compassion, and justice,” Fr. Moyo said during the event, according to a news report. 

He added, “This partnership we are witnessing today between CCJPZ and ZHRC embodies our shared values of promoting human dignity, justice and peace. It is rooted in the conviction, so clearly expressed by Pope Francis, that every person is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity (Evangelii Gaudium, 183).”

The member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSsR), said the partnership would enable the two signatories “to work together to ensure the rights of all people are respected.”

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“Let us work together to promote human rights, justice, and peace in Zimbabwe. Let us strive to build a society that is just, equitable, and peaceful,” said the ZCBC official on September 5.

The ZHRC Chairperson, Ms. Jessi Majome, described the partnership as “both timely and symbolic” considering that it was realized “just nine months after Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty.”

“It is a moment to celebrate the abolition of the death penalty and continue to work for the dignity, the freedom, and the equality of all human beings,” Ms. Majome is quoted as having said before signing the MoU on September 5.

She noted that “CCJPZ and the Church in general are particularly well placed to assist the work of making Zimbabwe a kinder society, one where there is tolerance.” 

Ms. Majome lauded ZHRC’s long-standing collaboration with the CCJPZ expressing optimism that the formal agreement is going to strengthen “an already fruitful partnership.”

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The MoU, according to the Catholic Church News Zimbabwe report, “commits both parties to share knowledge and expertise, hold regular review meetings, and support each other’s human rights initiatives at both national and community levels.” It also “provides a framework for case referrals, joint advocacy, research, outreach and education programmes.”

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.