By Fr. Methuli Lanele Moyo in Rome
Delegates from the government of Zimbabwe are currently in Rome, following their participation in the Jubilee of Governments, which was held from 20 to 22 June 2025 at the Vatican. The delegation was led by the Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwindamilimo Mudenda, and included Senator General (Retired) Michael Reuben Nyambuya, the Deputy President of the Senate; Honourable Senator Prisca Mupfumira; the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Italy, Her Excellency Mietani Chauke; and priests from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The delegates met for their first briefing meeting at the Occidental Aran Park Hotel in Rome yesterday the 20th of June 2025.
The group is composed of 4 Priests, a religious Brother, members from various tiers of the government of Zimbabwe, the Office of the President and Cabinet, both catholic and non-Catholic alike.
In the meeting the speaker of Parliament informed the house that on the 24th of December 2024, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops through their Secretary General sent an invitation to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to attend the jubilee of Governments.
‘President Mnangagwa warmly accepted the invitation’, said Honourable Mudenda. ‘But because of his other duties, he assigned Vice President General Retired Constantino Chiwenga to attended the Jubilee. The Vice President, because of his humility, then asked me to attended since he recently had just visited Rome for the burial of Pope Francis and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.’
Honourable Mudenda Leads the delegation representing the Head of State of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Fr. Kizito Nhundu, the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Zimbabwe and Fr. Johane Maseko the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Officer are guiding the delegates spiritually as pilgrims.
The Jubilee for Governments runs under the theme ‘A Call for Unity and Stewardship”. It is a significant event within the Catholic Church’s ongoing Jubilee celebrations as it aims at fostering dialogue and collaboration among global leaders.
Typical aspects of the Jubilee of Governments include keynote addresses by prominent figures, panel discussions and opportunities for networking and collaboration, all set within a framework of spiritual reflection and ethical consideration.
Pilgrims will have opportunities to visit historical and religious places of relevance, to pray as well as appreciate the beauty of religious and cultural interaction in the petals of faith.