HomeVatican Radio
Vatican Radio   
more languages  

     Home > Justice & Peace >  2014-05-01 18:57:48
A+ A- print this page

IMBISA Bishops call on Leaders of the Member States of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, to respond to the Challenge of Migration caused by Economic Hardships and Conflicts in the Region

The Bishops of the Interregional Meeting of Bishops in Southern Africa, IMBISA, have written a letter to the leaders of the countries that make up the Southern African Development Community, SADC, to give more attention to the economic challenges and conflicts in the region. They note that many people in the region are migrating for economic reasons and going to neighbouring countries in search of survival while others are forced to leave their homes and countries by conflicts. Mention is given of the economic situation in Zimbabwe which has forced thousands of Zimbabweans to migrate to other countries as economic refugees. Another example is Mozambique where the conflict between the government and RENAMO forces has forced hundreds to flee their homes. The Bishops encourage the home countries of the refugees and the host nations to work together to find solutions. They point out that the protection of the lives of the refugees and their families is of paramount importance to the church. They appeal to the SADC leaders not to wait until the situation is out of hand, when foreign powers will come and act as policemen, which is so humiliating for Africa. IMBISA is an association of Catholic Bishops Conferences comprising Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe. Most of the economic refugees in these countries are attracted to go to Botswana and South Africa which are the regional big economies.

