History: The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Struggle for Democratisation in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 1972-1980

Abstract

Christian Churches have played, and continue to play important roles in the histories of many African countries. In Southern Africa, the Catholic Church played an important role in the liberation struggles of many countries. This paper examines the contribution of the Catholic Church through the lens of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the democratisation of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). It advances the proposition that the Church, through the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, played an important role in the internationalization of the Rhodesian crisis between 1972 and 1980. It argues first, that the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace performed a sterling job of breaking the enormous silence about the horrifying things that were taking place in Rhodesia through the preparation, publication and
dissemination of objective information; second that the Commission succeeded in countering Rhodesian government’s propaganda and psychological warfare campaign; third and finally that the Commission brought enough internal and external pressure to bear on the Rhodesian government to hasten its collapse.