Interview: Bishop Meshack Mabuza
Bishop Meshack Mabuza was not completely serious, when he said that he wished the United States would turn its attentions to Swaziland after it was through with Iraq. His talk last Thursday at the Cathedral of the Nativity in Bethlehem made it clear, however, that intervention is needed for his country.
In fact, the figures he presented show that twenty thousand people die of AIDS each year in his country. Swaziland has a population of about a million. It is the smallest country in southern Africa, being only about eighty-five per cent as large as New Jersey (for more figures, please see the accompanying sidebar).
The country faces other troubles in addition to AIDS. This year threatens to be the worst of three years of drought. The monarchy does not permit political parties, so there are problems with social justice and corruption. And the population is sixty-five per cent impoverished and thirty-one per cent unemployed.
Bishop Mabuza is prepared to fight, however. Although he was only appointed as Anglican Bishop of Swaziland last November, he has well defined goals for each of these overwhelming problems. Dr. Ned Wallace, a member of Trinity Bethlehem who has been a frequent visitor to Swaziland, says that Bishop Mabuza is a man who listens to many people before making up a plan of action.
The Bishop brings some unique qualifications to the tasks. As well as having a B.A. with Honors in Theology, he has an M.A. in Management from Atlanta University and an advanced diploma in Labour Law from Rand Afrikaans University. He has also been the headmaster of three schools and vice-principal of a teachers’ college, and has served on the boards of the Swaziland Railway and Swaziland Council of Churches.
Of course, his goals center on the church. He reported problems there, also, including low morale, a lack of contributions, and no growth in membership. One problem with the latter is that many individuals form their own churches with a messianic zeal that will draw many followers, a least for a time.
Bishop Mabuza hopes to take the church back in time to the first century, when finding Christ was an exciting new discovery. He plans to train churchgoers in person-to-person skills to draw in new members. He plans to introduce revivals and revive healing ministries. And he plans to bring in people from the outside with new thoughts and insights.
In 2002, the U.S. State Department reported that Swaziland generally has freedom of religion. There are other political problems, however. The Country was granted independence in 1968. Soon afterwards, in 1973, King Sobhuza II repealed the Constitution and banned all political parties. A later royal decree would have allowed the present king, Mswati III, to ban newspapers and overturn court decisions. He revoked the decree, however, when the United States threatened to take away preferential trade benefits.
The bishop has spoken out against injustice in the Country, despite possible repercussions. As he said at the Cathedral, “If you do not speak out, who will?”
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in the Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church.
In fact, the figures he presented show that twenty thousand people die of AIDS each year in his country. Swaziland has a population of about a million. It is the smallest country in southern Africa, being only about eighty-five per cent as large as New Jersey (for more figures, please see the accompanying sidebar).
The country faces other troubles in addition to AIDS. This year threatens to be the worst of three years of drought. The monarchy does not permit political parties, so there are problems with social justice and corruption. And the population is sixty-five per cent impoverished and thirty-one per cent unemployed.
Bishop Mabuza is prepared to fight, however. Although he was only appointed as Anglican Bishop of Swaziland last November, he has well defined goals for each of these overwhelming problems. Dr. Ned Wallace, a member of Trinity Bethlehem who has been a frequent visitor to Swaziland, says that Bishop Mabuza is a man who listens to many people before making up a plan of action.
The Bishop brings some unique qualifications to the tasks. As well as having a B.A. with Honors in Theology, he has an M.A. in Management from Atlanta University and an advanced diploma in Labour Law from Rand Afrikaans University. He has also been the headmaster of three schools and vice-principal of a teachers’ college, and has served on the boards of the Swaziland Railway and Swaziland Council of Churches.
Of course, his goals center on the church. He reported problems there, also, including low morale, a lack of contributions, and no growth in membership. One problem with the latter is that many individuals form their own churches with a messianic zeal that will draw many followers, a least for a time.
Bishop Mabuza hopes to take the church back in time to the first century, when finding Christ was an exciting new discovery. He plans to train churchgoers in person-to-person skills to draw in new members. He plans to introduce revivals and revive healing ministries. And he plans to bring in people from the outside with new thoughts and insights.
In 2002, the U.S. State Department reported that Swaziland generally has freedom of religion. There are other political problems, however. The Country was granted independence in 1968. Soon afterwards, in 1973, King Sobhuza II repealed the Constitution and banned all political parties. A later royal decree would have allowed the present king, Mswati III, to ban newspapers and overturn court decisions. He revoked the decree, however, when the United States threatened to take away preferential trade benefits.
The bishop has spoken out against injustice in the Country, despite possible repercussions. As he said at the Cathedral, “If you do not speak out, who will?”
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in the Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church.