IMBISA-Social Communications Department came into being in 1973 under the name of Secretariat of Southern Africa Region for Social Communication (SARCOM). In 1975, SARCOM
held its first meeting under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. It shared an orientation of how this Secretariat should work in order to set up a network of
Communication in Southern Africa. At that moment IMBISA was not yet in place and the Southern Region was indeed only English-speaking countries, though the consultation was going on for a broader formation of the Region.
With the Independence of Mozambique and Angola, the first effort was the introduction of SARCOM as a way to communicate among different Episcopal conferences including the three
Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Mozambique and São Tome e Principe).
With the official establishment of IMBISA in 1984 on its First Plenary Assembly, SARCOM moved
to Harare, and the tasks of this secretariat were established as to: "establish a bilingual Secretariat; facilitate communication among the Bishops, since the Region has two main
languages; establish a communication network among IMBISA member countries; animate and to programme communication courses at IMBISA level, to train people who could possibly take
communication jobs at Episcopal Conference level (both religious and lay people; represent IMBISA-SCD at continental and international levels"
In 1987 during a meeting with all the Bishops Chairmen of Social Communications Commissions from the Region, the Department came out with a Communication Policy for the Region: Training
at all levels, providing media towards the voiceless and the poor, who are not counted in the media, and work towards planning for communication courses in both basic or traditional media and electronic media.
The Church exists to communicate the Good News of salvation to all peoples of our time and places; in doing so, she acts in accordance with the command of her Lord who told his disciples:
'go and teach all nations' (Mt. 28:19). It is therefore our duty to promote in our Region 'the best use of the media in order to spread the message of salvation and to communicate to our peoples
the Good News of the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ' (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, 125).
IMBISA Department for Social Communications intends to keep the Region in touch, to help
break the political, economic and social boundaries, and help our local churches to share their joys, hardships and pastoral concerns.
IMBISA Social Communications Department intends to utilize all means available to establish a true Communication and Network between the Regional Office and the Diocesan or Inter-Diocesan
Offices and also networking the National and Inter-Diocesan Offices. The Department also intends to make information on what is happening in various member countries available, as a move
towards a Regional Catholic News Agency. Following the principle of subsidiarity the Department intends to be at the service and support the National Offices of Social Communications of the
member Episcopal Conferences in their task of promoting communications for communion, in their respective Countries.
The Department is also trying to be a resource centre for Social Communication Offices, of the member Episcopal Conferences especially providing them with up to date information on Training
facilities available within member countries, Africa and Overseas, both Church and Secular; by giving them a relevant advice on structure, organization and suitable technical equipment.
The department would like to be an exchange centre for media products in the region.: feature articles, audio-cassettes, films, videos, etc., to be used in member countries.
It also will act as a meeting point, facilitating dialogue and exchange of information between Church media workers in the Region as well as with media workers from outside the Region and
assist in linking Catholic Media workers associations in the Regional organizations with Pan-African and International organizations.
The Department intends to provide training and production facilities at the service of the Region (for both Portuguese and English speaking countries), depending on the real needs of the
individual countries and where possible in collaboration with other Church Institutions like Seminaries and Religious Orders.
It is our desire to establish a real network with the Offices of the member Episcopal Conferences to share information and facilitate communication among member countries by Fax, E-mail and
other new electronic media. We desire to continue our partnership with AMECEA Social Communications Department and share our experiences, successes and challenges, and find the way forward together.
Our Action in the Department is threefold: namely Training in Communication; Video Production and Production of the Newsletter.
Contact Person: Sr. Veronica Dingi, CPS
The IMBISA Social Communications Department is an organ of liaison and collaboration among the Bishops of the Region. It coordinates and evaluates media activities in the member countries and help in setting
up viable structures of communications. The department also helps in building up media training programmes for people working in the National and Diocesan Offices of Social Communications.