Records of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia

Publications, including preliminary and final versions of the CCJPR's pamphlets on atrocities by the Rhodesian security forces: 'The Man in the Middle', April 1975, and 'Civil War in Rhodesia', August 1976.
Reports and statements include: on Chiwesha Tribal Trust Territory, 1974; Robert Mugabe on Zimbabwe African People's Union and Zimbabwe African National Union prisoners; on the Bill to protect Servants of the State, July 1975; on Shootings at Karima village, 12th August 1975. Catholic Directory of Rhodesia 1975/76.
There is also extensive documentation on the trial of Bishop Lamont, who was tried in 1976 for not reporting and therefore for supporting insurgent activities, and who was later deported; includes texts of interviews with Lamont, telegrams of support, etc.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia was established in 1972. It was an official body of the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Commission became the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe after independence in 1980.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia was established in 1972. It was an official body of the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Commission became the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe after independence in 1980.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.
24 hours’ notice is required to access photographic material.

Further accruals are not expected.

Other references to the Catholic Commission in records held at the Borthwick Institute are included in the papers of Judith, Countess of Listowel (GB 193 LIS), records relating to Rhodesian politics (GB 193 MOU/Box X), which appears to include some circulars by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and also some of the speeches of James William Moubray as spokesman for the Centre party in the 1971 Referendum Campaign. The Commission is also mentioned in the Rhodesian Security Forces collection (GB 193 RSF): a collection of pamphlets, briefing reports and press releases relating to counter-insurgency activities from 1974-1977.
The records of the Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission are held in Scottish Catholic Archives (GB 240 NJ).

Published

GB 193