March 29, 2013
by Oskar Wermter SJ
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP – national office), Heads of Denominations (an inter-church body which includes ZCBC) and the Evangelical Alliance, all put out statements urging people to vote YES at he recent referendum for the Draft Constitution. The Zimbabwean Catholic Bishops (ZCBC) and the Bishops of Southern
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December 28, 2012
by Oskar Wermter SJ
Some years ago the people living to the east of Madzima Road in Mbare were without water for many months. Every morning one could see women and big girls setting out with buckets and plastic containers to find water somewhere, e.g. with friends and relatives in remote parts of Mbare,
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September 19, 2012
by Oskar Wermter SJ
A few days ago I told some mothers and fathers at a neighbourhood meeting, “There is not a family here in Mbare without some members living and working in South Africa.” The confirmation of my statement was immediate. The woman of the house lined up for me her five sons
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July 15, 2012
by Oskar Wermter SJ
Even in Mbare you need to use “politically correct language.” I have learnt that handicapped people want to be called “differently abled”. At least those fluent in English – the Shona speakers don’t know what the fuss is all about. “AIDS orphans,” I am told, is discriminatory, even though it describes
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June 30, 2012
by Oskar Wermter SJ
Mai Fungai has not been seen in church or at any other community function for some time. She has never been in good health, but now the mother of five grown-up daughters, all single mothers with babies, is worse. She can hardly breathe. She desperately needs to be seen by
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March 16, 2012
by Oskar Wermter SJ
This report is reprinted from IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH AND FAITH #169, a Jescom publication. This morning a young woman came to say good-bye. She had come from New Zealand to attend the funeral of her grandmother. This afternoon she is flying back to her family and her job as a nursing sister. “Don’t
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November 2, 2011
by Oskar Wermter SJ
This report is reprinted from IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH AND FAITH #166, a Jescom publication. If you ask party members and leaders they are all against violence as a political tactic. In the meantime, political intimidation and terror continue. The mere running around of those well-known agitators in large groups, singing militant songs, is
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October 31, 2011
by Oskar Wermter SJ
reprinted from IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH AND FAITH #166, a Jescom publication. “Makandiwa cashes in” was a recent headline. Religion has become a business. It seems to be as fraudulent as stock exchange speculation where people make money not by production, but by playing with figures. The “prophet” promises prosperity if the gullible pay
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October 11, 2011
by Oskar Wermter SJ
This report is reprinted from IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH AND FAITH #165, a Jescom publication. Some unknown “artists” managed to get into our parish centre and paint their party slogans on the walls. Our people were very annoyed. Within 24 hours these “works of art” were scraped off and painted over. A lively discussion
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August 2, 2011
by Oskar Wermter SJ
This report is reprinted from IN TOUCH WITH CHURCH AND FAITH #163, a Jescom publication. Julia wants to get married to her husband in church, but he is unemployed and cannot pay “roora/lobola”. Her parents are dirt poor and hope for some cattle/’mombe’ or the equivalent in cash. The purpose of
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