Mission Priority | ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Rev. Cheryl N. Dibeela
Mission Enabler, CWM Africa Region

We identified Unjust Economic Systems and Environmental Degradation as one of the critical issues currently affecting the Region.

Our Objective is: To pursue studies on the impact of neo-liberalism on the Africa Region and encourage alternative economic models.
The Council for World Mission, Africa Region is an organization consisting of the following member churches; Churches of Christ in Malawi, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Churches of Jesus Christ in Madagascar and the United Church of Zambia. Amongst its mission priorities is to seek justice for creation and all humanity, as indicated in the objective above. All the member churches are situated in sub-Saharan Africa, which is characterised with high levels of poverty. The paradox of the situation is that although the majority of people live in abject poverty, a small percentage control, in collusion with international capital owners, the resources of these countries. The result is a very dangerous gap between the rich and the poor that could easily lead to social unrests in the region. At a recent meeting of the CWM, Africa region, members discussed the situation of poverty in Southern Africa, in particular the question of economic justice. We recognized that there are a number of reasons for this discrepancy between the rich and the poor in our respective countries. One is that our governments have embraced the capitalist economic model. This is also called 'free market' system which allows any person, depending on your financial capacity the freedom to  earnand accumulate as much wealth as they wish. This kind of system is being implemented through different programmes and policies. One of these is privatization. Through privatization governments hand over health care, education and other provisions of basic services to individuals and companies who then sell those services to the people. This arrangement always makes the fundamental services inaccessible to the poor.

This system creates unjust relations leading to the majority of people being isolated from the economies of their countries, deprived of basic necessities of life, including their own dignity. This is a fundamental question of faith because this economic system leads to the deprivation of the fullness of life which is promised by Jesus Christ. The system also promotes an unquenchable greed, which destroys
communities. They deplete all resources and squeeze as much out of the environment in the name of profit making. This phenomenon replicates itself through structures and systems at a global level. Rich and affluent nations put institutions and policies in place which squeeze life out of the poorer nations of the South.