IMBISA

INTER-REGIONAL MEETING OF THE BISHOPS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

ASSOCIAO INTER-REGIONAL DOS BISHOPS DA AFRICA AUSTRAL IMBISA CENTRE 88 BROADLANDS ROAD AVONDALE, HARARE. TEL NO: (+263-4)336775/336908 P.O.BOX EH 99 EMERALD HILL HARARE, ZIMBABWE FAX: (+263-4)336909

Headline: IMBISA Bishops meet the President of Angola Jos Eduardo Dos Santos Date: 27th June 2013 For Immediate release: On Thursday 20 June, a delegation of The IMBISA (Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa) election observation team was welcomed by His Excellency Jos Eduardo Dos Santos, President of Angola. The meeting was part of an effort by IMBISA to meet with Statesmen from the IMBISA region to discuss amongst other things the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe. As part of this programme IMBISA Bishops have also met with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique and to the Bishops of Zambia. The Delegation included: Bishops Antonio Jaca of Caxito, Angola, Germano Grachane of Nacala, Mozambique, Alexio Muchabaiwa, of Mutare in Zimbabwe, Giuseppe Sandri of Witbank and Patrick Mvemve Emmeritus of Klerksdorp in South Africa, as well as Fr Richard Menatsi (Director of IMBISA), Fr Claudio Dos Reis (Justice and Peace, IMBISA). In the meeting the Bishops voiced their worries relating to the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe and asked President Dos Santos, together with other statesmen of the SADC region, to intervene so that Zimbabwe holds free and fair elections, without intimidation and violence. The Bishops believe that peace in Zimbabwe means peace in the region. The spokesman for the delegation Bishop Germano Grachane said that The meeting was very good. The Bishops told the President that it is not sustainable to hold the Zimbabwean Elections on 31st July and that they should be held later Bishop Germano added that they discussed current issues in Mozambique and the Bishop called for a dialogue between RENAMO and the Mozambican government. Notes to Editors: IMBISA is made up of Bishops from the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. IMBISAs recent press statement on Zimbabwes forthcoming elections can be found here [http://www.scribd.com/doc/130120927/IMBISA-Press-Statement-Zimbabwe-Elections] IMBISA on Twitter @IMBISA IMBISA on Facebook - IMBISA For further details please contact Mr Simon Jeffery on email bpministry@imbisa.com
Director: rmenatsi@gmail.com Justice and Peace: creis@imbisa.com Communications: bpministry@imbisa.com Finance: accounts@imbisa.com Website: www.imbisa.org