Golden Jubilee For Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference
care was taken in creating a tribunal setting that offers an atmosphere of
welcome, acceptance, trust and openness. Fr Michael McAuley became
its judicial vicar and Sr. Guido Meyer as the notary. The judicial vicar later
left for England leaving the Tribunal without a judicial vicar and therefore
unable to process any case further than collecting evidence and
assembling dossiers.
1.1.4. Visit by Msgr Marc de Muelenaere
In August 1995 Msgr Marc de Muelenaere, Judicial Vicar of the interdiocesan Tribunal in Pretoria, paid a surprise visit to the Tribunal Notary.
He had heard of the predicament of the National ZCBC Marriage
Tribunal. He agreed to have additional cases from Zimbabwe to their
Tribunal in Pretoria. In October 1995, ZCBC accepted Msgr Marc de
Muelenaere’s generous offer and appointed him “Acting Judicial Vicar of
the National Marriage Tribunal of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops'
Conference for one year or until such time as the Zimbabwe Catholic
Bishops' Conference is able to establish its own National Marriage
Tribunal”. The most right Reverend Archbishop Robert Ndlovu was
appointed as the Marriage Tribunal moderator.
1.1.5. Tribunal's Progress after October 1995
The Tribunal work could now forge ahead. Cases handled between 1995
and 2014 increase by 60% compared with the cases handled previously
over the years when it was done at regional level. Since then the National
Marriage Tribunal loaded the Pretoria Tribunal as the courts of first
instance and Durban as the court of second instance with enormous
amount of work. Thus, the National Marriage Tribunal completed 21
years under the outstanding guidance of Msgr Marc De Muelenaere, and
Sr Guido Meyer. They achieved a record of one hundred percent ratified
cases submitted to Pretoria and Durban and two hundred and seventy four
[274] marriage cases were granted nullification under the care of the two
above-mentioned tribunals.
1.1.6. Thanks to those who laid the foundation
It is with gratitude that the office extends its sincere thanks to all those who
laid its foundation over the years. It was not easy. They managed without
interference of any kind and in utter discretion and freedom to invent,
create, concentrate and serve the people who longed to return to the
sacraments.
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