by Stan Dongo, Zimbabwe, September 1997
THEME = VIOLENCE
The Church is examining the possibility of establishing a Peace Study Faculty at the planned Catholic University. This faculty would either be attached to the University or run separately as a different department.
Father Anthony Berridge is Secretary-General of the Bishops Conference. In an interview, he said that an expert in social work and a University of Zambia graduate, have been assigned to carry out a detailed research project on the causes of conflict. They will then present their recommendations, before the Catholic University is built in Harare.
The research project is expected to take six months, and the Catholic University should be set up next year. That is, if the Friends of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe have been able to raise enough funds.
Father Berridge said that areas of conflict to be researched, include: tribalism, university student riots, political party clashes, demonstrations and labour disputes. The research team are supposed to come up with recommendations on how to tackle these on- going conflicts, not just in Zimbabwe, but throughout Africa. If accepted, the recommendations will form an integral part of the peace-study course envisaged by the Church. Father Berridge added that other organisations, such as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, the Jesuits of Zimbabwe, and Silveira House (an adult training centre near Harare) are also involved in the research project. In Zimbabwe, the Church has always been mainly associated with development work. Now the Church is urged to adjust its stance and adopt a new role, especially in the area of human rights.
This new role entails making regular contacts with several groups in Southern Africa to follow up progress in development, and to intervene, if necessary, in a conflict situation. The Catholic Church is believed to be very close to the ordinary people, and so will approach this role in a positive direction.
Trade union members, politicians and people from other walks of life will be welcome to attend the Peace Study Course. It is interesting to note that the University of Zimbabwe, which has had its fair share of student unrest, is also planning a similar peace study course.
It seems that the Catholic plan will gain support, because many law enforcement agencies are getting tired of the on-going pattern of violence in which a number of policemen have been harmed. Things have reached such a state, that the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front)'s National chairman, Mr.Msika, has warned party followers who indulge in violence, that they risk expulsion from ZANU-PF.
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