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[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3867     |     SOUTHERN AFRICA	 |     11 AUGUST 2004

A photograph for this item can be found here:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/50/acns3867.cfm

Bishop of Swaziland gives thanks for Communion delegation

By Michael Craske

The Bishop of Swaziland, the Rt Revd Meshack Mabuza, has expressed great
thanks for the visit to his diocese last month of a delegation from the
worldwide Anglican Communion.

In a letter to the delegation leader - the Primate of the Church of the
Province of Southern Africa (CPSA) the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane -
the Bishop said that the diocese, which covers all of Swaziland, was
greatly encouraged by the magnitude of support that the delegation
represented. "The Church of Swaziland is not alone in its struggles for
justice," he said, "but it is supported by the worldwide Communion...and
that a concern in one part of the Communion is a concern for the whole
communion." Bishop Mabuza added that the press coverage of the visit
throughout Swaziland and Southern Africa had highlighted the country's
plight and raised awareness of its many problems.

Swaziland has currently the highest HIV infection rate in the world at
40% of the population with the national life expectancy to fall to just
27 by 2010. About seven out of ten of the Swazi population also live on
less than US$1 a day.

"The Anglican Communion has an interest in what is happening in
Swaziland," continued Bishop Mabuza, adding that the delegation had
achieved its purpose in showing that "...not only are we being prayed
for, but the scope is there for internationalising our struggle and
getting support from a much wider circle than has ever been conceived
before."

The visit to Swaziland took place between 8-10 July and was organised in
response to a request from Bishop Mabuza. The delegation met with church
and civic leaders, the head of state, the prime minister, the Queen
Mother, and various ambassadors to Swaziland to discuss the
socio-economic situation and the country's ongoing constitutional
development. A service was held in the Anglican Cathedral Church of All
Saints in Mbabane on 10 July.

Archbishop Ndungane was accompanied by the Bishop of Lebombo in
Mozambique, the Rt Revd Dinis Sengulane; the Bishop of the Highveld and
Dean of the Province, the Rt Revd David Beetge; the Episcopal Bishop of
Washington, the Rt Revd John Chane; the Bishop of Edinburgh and
representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Revd Brian Smith;
the Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, the Secretary General of the
worldwide Anglican Communion; and Canon James Rosenthal, who is Director
of Communications for the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The diocese has 21 parishes, 30 clergy, and 82 congregations. The
Anglican Church in Swaziland was founded in 1871 and until 1986 was
incorporated as the Diocese of Zululand and Swaziland.

Previous articles on Swaziland:

Swaziland Diocese cries out for prayer (4 May)
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/00/acns3823.cfm

Anglican leaders' visit marks deep concern for troubled Swaziland (6
July)
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/00/acns3848.cfm

A pastoral visit to the diocese of Swaziland (14 July)
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/38/50/acns3851.cfm

More information on the Diocese of Swaziland here:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=528&view=alpha

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