Diocese of Zanzibar at P.O. Box 294, Zanzibar, Zanzibar n/a TZ - Part II "Today's Church";
| Part II "Today's Church"; |
A New Situation: The fall of the Berlin Wall greatly affected Tanzania. While the Socialist State owned the A Golden Time for the Church: The recent policy of privatization and even more recent move for a multi-party system in The Church could now establish relations with government and private persons, It could A New Response: Responding to the opportunity, the Diocese decided to focus its resources on setting up A surprising development occurred within the first year of implementing this Diocesan Evolving Response: In its first year under a priest and a sister Director, 27 groups have been formed. Most are mixed groups of Christians and Muslims: a few are not mixed: one is unique in that it includes men. The program is implemented through regular seminars throughout tlie islands and follow-up supervision. Women on the African continent have a general role that places them in the heart of the family. It is the women who form the children, do everything for the family. Muslim women in the islands have the same role but other roles are more established and enforced by their religion. African women in general do not get to develop their inborn talents and are very limited in personal freedom. Some cultures do not allow them to arrange their own marriages. Subject to easy and numerous divorces, they must either care for their children by themselves or ask family members to bring them up. They are passive recipients rather that active agents of their own growth. Recognition by the State: The Women's Development Program, therefore, begins with helping women to discover Part III "Tomorrow's Challenges".
means of production, claiming to provide for the people, the people having positions in
government in fact used their position for selfish interests rather than for the common good. By 1985 socialism was no longer viable. The economy had been destroyed. The common people had been abused and had become passive, even fatalistic. They had little power to work for their own well being. Tanzania and Zanzibar had to open their doors to the rest of the world. President Nyerere, the Father of the Nation, resigned and a new order came into being.
politics has brought significant change to the Islands as also to the whole of Tanzania. The
economy, which had stagnated under nationalization and worsened when the world market for cloves collapsed, is recovering. Having little in the way of natural resources and lacking industry, the struggle for income is now focused on the tourist trade. The newly signed agreement between two major political parties has given hope for a government truly concerned with the welfare of the people and the development of the State.
now be recognized as having a right in the country. This new sense of freedom enabled it to research the situation in which it found itself, observe the needs and look for ways to rebuild the society. In this changed environment, the Church has not only recognized its potential to assist in the work of rebuilding the society hut it has also benefited from the Government's realization that it needs the help of the private sector if it is to provide basic human services. In 1997, it called for private groups to assist by establishing schools and health facilities.
Kindergartens in every Parish and Outstation and to provide health care and related services at their dispensaries. Committed to caring for the well being of all persons regardless of race, class, gender, or religion, all Church facilities are open to both Christians and Muslims. It is the conviction of Church personnel that in the mingling of these two groups they will come to know, understand, appreciate, and respect each other. In such an environment of good will. harmonious relationships will develop, bringing about justice and peace.
decision. Mothers of children in the kindergartens, most of them Muslim, and women attending the health facilities began coming together to discuss the welfare of their children. This quickly led to their sharing about family problems. Observing what was happening so naturally, the Church saw in this evolution the opportunity to advance the position of women by organizing a new program: WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT AND DIALOGUE. This program was formalized and is now ready to begin the second phase of a three-year project in which women, Christian and Muslim, from both Islands are participating.
what it means to be a person, who has dignity and deserves respect, is the subject of rights as well as responsibilities, and is obligated to develop her natural gifts for the benefit of herself, her family, neighbors, and society. The content of the seminars includes home-making skills, child care, family life, reading and writing, and business practices for initiating small self-help projects. A few weeks ago. local TV news carried pictures of a seminar in progress and commented on how much the Catholic Church in Zanzibar is doing for women. A week later the President of the Islands encouraged the development of women, saying they are the agents of peace. The occasion was the Pan-African Women's Conference - a press-worthy event because it took place in a predominantly Muslim country and means that we are open to change.