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The Bishop
of Southwark's Lent Call 2008
Zimbabwe
Fast Facts
Population 13,010,000
Capital Harare
Area 390,757 km2
(150,872 sq miles)
Language English, Shona, Sindebele
Religion Syncretic (pt Christian, pt indigenous beliefs),
Christian, indigenous beliefs
Currency Zimbabwean dollar
Life Expectancy mid 30s
Literacy 91%
Diocesan Zimbabwe links
Our links with three of the Dioceses in Zimbabwe are very
important to us here in Southwark Diocese. For many years now
the Croydon Area has been linked with Central Zimbabwe; Kingston
with Matabeleland and Woolwich with Manicaland.
 In
recent years the Bishop’s Lent Call has asked for your help and
support for different projects in each of the Areas. These are
projects which have been chosen by the Bishop of the Diocese to
which each Area is linked.
Specific projects we have already supported include:
St Patrick’s Mission Hospital,
St David’s Hospital, Bonda & St Peter’s Clinic, Mandeya
As you will know from our national newspapers and the TV and
radio news the situation in Zimbabwe is very complex and changes
very fast. Bishops Nick and Christopher spoke movingly about the
situation there at the Diocesan Synod meeting in November of
2007. They spoke of what they had each seen when they had
visited the country: Bishop Nick took a party in April 2007 and
Bishop Christopher in June 2006 and have had a great deal of
contact with their link Dioceses since.
 It
is clear that at present the money that can be raised for
Zimbabwe through the Lent Call will be of benefit to the people
in the country but the Bishops have had to consider how best to
use it.
So, because the situation is so difficult and changing so fast
and the value of the Zimbabwean dollar is plummeting rapidly,
the Bishops here in Southwark have agreed with their
counterparts in Zimbabwe that this year’s Lent Call for Zimbabwe
should go towards a reconstruction fund for the Church when the
situation in Zimbabwe is more settled.
In this way the people, clergy and Bishops of Southwark Diocese
can ensure that they have a great deal of help available for the
people, clergy and Bishops in the churches in Zimbabwe just as
soon as it can be used to good effect in re-building the
infrastructure of the churches there.
We urge you to regularly remember the peoples and church in
Zimbabwe and to pray for a just and equitable resolution to the
difficulties faced in this beautiful yet troubled country where
the economy is broken and unemployment is estimated at over 80%.
Life expectancy for men and women is in the mid-30s and HIV/AIDS
are rife.
ZIMBABWE
LINK
The Link between the Diocese of
Southwark and three of the four Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe
began informally in 1991. Since then the Link has grown stronger
through regular prayer, the sharing of gifts and resources, and
visits in both directions by bishops. Our three Episcopal Areas
are each linked with a different Zimbabwean diocese. The Area Link
Representatives are:
Croydon Area with Central
Zimbabwe:
Hilary Brand
01737 821900
brand@btinternet.com
Kingston Area with Matabeleland:
Revd Bill Warren
020 8789 5932
wfwarren2003@yahoo.co.uk
Woolwich Area with Manicaland:
Revd Naomi Whittle
020 8856 5858
naomi@whittle30.fsnet.co.uk
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