Zimbabwe enlists Vatican's support in push to end sanctions

The Government of Zimbabwe has intensified its diplomatic campaign to end illegal Western-imposed sanctions by appealing to the Vatican for support, as part of a renewed strategy to build international consensus against the punitive measures.

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga met yesterday with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, and sought the Catholic Church's intervention in advocating for the removal of sanctions that have weighed heavily on Zimbabwe's economy since the early 2000s.

Speaking after the high-level engagement, Vice President Chiwenga emphasized the Vatican's potential to be a moral voice in amplifying Zimbabwe's call for justice.

"We believe that the Church can play a significant role in advocating for the removal of these sanctions," said Dr Chiwenga.
"Our discussions with Archbishop Gallagher touched primarily on this issue, as well as other areas of longstanding cooperation between the Church and the State."

Although Archbishop Gallagher declined to go into detail about the meeting, he confirmed that Zimbabwe's current diplomatic needs were a key part of their dialogue.

"We talked about the role of the Church in Zimbabwe," said Archbishop Gallagher.
"We discussed the challenges that Zimbabwe faces today and also touched on the regional situation and some of the challenges facing Africa."

The meeting is part of a broader diplomatic effort by the Second Republic to re-engage with the international community. Despite signs of progress, sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and other Western nations continue to constrain Zimbabwe's efforts toward sustainable economic growth.

Chiwenga said the discussions also revisited Zimbabwe's deep-rooted partnership with the Catholic Church, particularly in education and healthcare, sectors in which the Church has historically played a pivotal role.

"Everyone who is educated in Zimbabwe, especially those of our generation, attended missionary schools," he noted.
"In the health sector, many hospitals in various districts are still run by the Catholic Church and function as district hospitals."

Dr Chiwenga also highlighted the Stella Mundi agricultural project at Driefontein Mission as an example of productive collaboration between the Church and the State.

The Vice President further called for the Vatican's recognition of Zimbabwe's historical contribution to Christianity, citing the 16th-century involvement of sons of Mutapa kings in the Catholic priesthood in Goa, India.

"We requested the Vatican to recognise Zimbabwe's role in spreading Christianity," he said.
"We talked about Father Miguel, one of the sons of a Mutapa king, who rose to become a vicar in Goa. These are significant contributions that deserve to be acknowledged."

Dr Chiwenga added that Zimbabwean bishops would begin working with the Archdiocese of Goa to document this shared religious history.

Father Ephraim Murwira, who accompanied the Vice President, said the Church in Zimbabwe welcomed the Government's efforts to deepen ties with the Vatican.

"The Church in Zimbabwe is proud to see our Government taking steps to strengthen ties with the Vatican," said Father Murwira.
"This cooperation can pave the way for meaningful dialogue and support."

The meeting marks another step in Zimbabwe's efforts to leverage religious diplomacy and historical ties in order to reshape global perceptions and push for the end of sanctions that continue to impact millions of ordinary citizens.