Tawanda Karombo

A year after Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique, where he lauded leaders for forging a peace deal, the nation is now besieged by an Islamic insurgency that has displaced hundreds of thousands.

The bishops' pastoral letter was deeply reflective of what Zimbabweans have been saying on social media using the hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter. The pastoral letter said the struggle in Zimbabwe has "resulted in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses."

In sub-Saharan Africa, Catholic relief agencies, priests and mental health experts are having to double up their efforts as a result of the increased number of people living with mental health conditions because of COVID-19 stressors.

The secretary general of the Zimbabwe bishops' conference told NCR that the pandemic has forced Zimbabwean Catholics to "reflect on other possibilities than what we are used to" in terms of faith practices.

Demand for humanitarian aid is on the increase as the pandemic escalates in Malawi, where agencies such as the Catholic Development Commission and Catholic Relief Services were already stretched thin.

The African nation has been devastated by an unprecedented climate-driven disaster gripping the southern part of the continent. A prolonged drought and a catastrophic hurricane have created a hunger crisis and heightened the risk of outbreaks of diseases associated with water shortages and poor sanitation.

Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe are working to salvage a solution to a health care crisis occasioned by a stand-off between the government and striking public hospital doctors.

Arrupe Jesuit University and the Catholic University of Zimbabwe in Harare have been registered as full-fledged universities and plan to expand degree offerings and open new campuses across the country.

Against the backdrop of a disputed election and worsening economic crisis, Catholic and other Christian leaders in Zimbabwe have called for seven years of no political contestation.

A Mass at the Mutemwa Leprosy Center kick-started the opening of the process for beatification and canonization of John Bradburne, a lay Franciscan who was martyred in Zimbabwe in 1979.

The challenges rocking Zambia are far and wide, ranging from an economic situation that is taking long to mend, food shortages and political disagreements that have often turned violent. 

Malawi's bishops are taking the lead in Africa in embracing tech platforms as tools for evangelism and pastoral messages, especially for youth.

Catholic and other Christian church leaders in Zimbabwe are pressing for dialogue between the president and his political opposition leader to help end the country's political and economic crisis worsened by recent deadly protests over fuel prices.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's political and humanitarian situation is tense ahead of December elections as Catholic bishops urge an "electoral campaign devoid of violence."

Catholic food relief agencies in Zimbabwe are struggling to meet growing demand for aid and say they need extra resources as fears of food shortages swell in the aftermath of the July 30 elections.

Harare, Zimbabwe - Catholic bishops and other church leaders are preparing to play peacemaker roles as disputes between the incumbent ruling party and the opposition intensify.

Catholic bishops and other church leaders in Zimbabwe want the country's polls on July 30 to be peaceful and credible as opposition parties battle to force the electoral body to institute reforms.