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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear JCTR Bulletin readers,
What are the social consequences of an inculturated faith in Africa? This is indeed a very critical question that has to be confronted in Africa today. In this current issue of the Bulletin, the article Mysticism, Power and Social Change in Africa makes reference to this important question. We may have heard of the phrase “authentic development of the people.” Could we say and think the same of an “authentic inculturated faith of the people”? Certainly, as one observer has posed the question in one of the contributions in this issue of the Bulletin, how relevant is the faith being practiced in Africa to the daily experiences of the people? Why do we see some disconnected situations between what is preached every Sunday at Church and the daily-lived experiences of the people? These questions, of course, have been raised before. But there is need to constantly confront them with a spirit of openness, honesty, courage, and commitment to move forward.
As many of you know, the JCTR is a project of Zambia-Malawi Province of the Jesuits. Currently there are more Jesuits serving in Zambia than there are in Malawi. From end of July to early August, Pete Henriot, S.J., and I -- along with some other members of the JCTR staff -- visited Malawi. The visit had a threefold mission.
Firstly, we celebrated the ordination to priesthood of a young Malawian, Alex Muyebe, S.J. Many of you who have been associated with the JCTR Bulletin either by reading it or contributing articles for publication will remember Alex as having been the editor of this publication. We particularly at the JCTR share in the delight of the occasion of his ordination to priesthood and sincerely thank Alex for his contributions not only to this publication but also his efforts on the Economic and Social Development Research Project of the JCTR. The JCTR prays for Alex’s success in his current and future endeavours.
Secondly, our visit was designed to expose ourselves to the political, social, and economic situation of Malawi. It involved visits to various NGOs and church groups. Malawi is similar to Zambia in many respects (this probably explains the reason why the two countries belong to the same province of the Society of Jesus!).
For example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on its Human Development Index (2003) that measures health, knowledge and decent standard of living, ranks Malawi at number 162 and Zambia at 163, out of 175 countries. That is to say, Malawi is just one step above in the two countries’ situations in health, knowledge and decent standard of living among countries with low human development.
Taking the area of education as a focus, for example, the problems being experienced by the two countries are very similar. There are problems in both countries concerning the quality of education (lack of teaching materials, trained teachers, low morale among teachers, etc.), problems of enrolment and retention of pupils, long distances covered by young children to and from school, disadvantaged position of the girl-child, etc.
Malawi and Zambia are equally affected by imbalances in the international trade arena that are in favour of the economically advanced countries. Both countries are mono-commodity in orientation in relation to their exports. Zambia relies heavily on mining while Malawi is heavily dependent on agriculture for foreign exchange earnings.
Thin differences are noticeable however, in the political situations of the two countries. Although both countries were once ruled by the same person for a long time – Kenneth Kaunda in the case of Zambia and Kamuzu Banda in the case of Malawi. But the latter country’s experience was marred more by political intolerance than was Zambia’s. This factor can be the explanation for the extent of civil society’s orientation in relation to the areas of focus.
Indeed, one thing that was very striking to our experience during the visit to Malawi was the focus of Malawi’s civil society on political justice as compared to Zambia’s economic justice focus. Of course, both countries have elements of focus on both political justice and economic justice. However, Malawi’s focus on political justice is more pronounced than its focus on economic justice. This situation can be understood because of the two countries’ historical circumstances as explained above.
Based on some preliminary findings of our visit, the last reason for the visit to Malawi was to explore areas of cooperation, especially between the JCTR and the Centre for Social Concern in Lilongwe (a project initiated by the Missionaries of Africa). Work around cooperative efforts between the two countries has already started. A feasibility study to look into future links is currently being concluded. In the next few months, our readers and those following JCTR activities will be seeing the cooperative efforts being prominent with focus on some particular issues of common interest.
Muweme Muweme
Editor
