Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
Secretariat:
P.O. Box 21191 NAIROBI, Kenya
Telephone: +254 20 3878008 / 10
Fax: 3878009, 3871590
E-mail: amecea@africaonline.co.ke

The 16th AMECEA Plenary Meeting

Reconciliation through Justice and Peace
in AMECEA Region
27th June – 7th July 2008
Lusaka, Zambia

2 - Report No.1

Friday 27th June 2008

The 16th AMECEA Plenary Meeting is taking place in Lusaka from 27th June
to 6th July where a delegation of 7 Missionaries of Africa are present
as official observers (Francois Richard [Zambia], Seán O'Leary [South Africa] Marc Nsanzurwimo [Zambia], Erasto Shayo [Tanzania], James Ngahy [Kenya],Jos Kuppens [Malawi] and Bill Turnbull [Malawi]) led by Jim Greene from Rome.

What surprised the delegation was that they are the only missionary
delegation at the meeting. This made them realise that it was a
privileged moment for the Missionaries of Africa. Before the official
opening of the Assembly the seven, joined by a number of confreres from
Lusaka, spent a day together looking at the peace building aspect of the
Justice and Peace ministry. From the registration, to the evening
welcoming meal, to the official opening meeting, the level of friendship
and welcome exceeded their expectations.

Saturday 28th June 2008

The opening Mass was a tribute to the church in Zambia showing how it
had taken seriously the challenge of inculturation emanating from the first
African Bishops' Synod on Africa in April 1994. The Mass was a
colourful, vibrant, symbolic expression of Zambian tradition. The
only shadow over it was the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe which
was mentioned several times as a blight over the African continent.

To accommodate President Mwanawasa's visit to the African Union meeting
in Egypt, he was invited to address the Assembly at the opening Mass.
The Zambian President came well prepared and delivered a very
encouraging opening address. He made two pertinent points. First to
say he himself had recently reconciled with his arch rival Michael Sata,
leader of the opposition Patriotic Front. Mr Sata and the President
shook hands smiling to one and all, as a sign of this recent
reconciliation. Secondly the President acknowledged that the Zambian
Justice and Peace department had made him feel uncomfortable at times
but in no way did he indicate that they should stop or change their way of
working. The President had done so much research, quoting from the
bible and catechism, that he said he felt himself a Catholic for the day!

As the President left the Mass the Assembly hoped and prayed that he
would take with him to the African Union the concern that everyone had
over the situation in Zimbabwe and at this late hour the AU would begin
to flex its muscles.

After a robust lunch served with all the pomp and circumstance befitting
the dignitaries present, the meeting finally began. This was more a
formality than an actual working session with all the different role
players present wishing that the Assembly would do justice to the theme
of "Reconciliation through Justice and Peace". Jim Greene conveyed our
Society's concern for the topic and the hope that something good would
come out of the 16th AMECEA Assembly.

Sunday 29th June 2008

On Sunday morning the Bishops met in private for a recollection in
preparation for the first working session in the afternoon.

.

Bill Turnbull and Seán O'Leary M.Afr.
seanol@fastmail.fm