Golden Jubilee For Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference grouping of church leaders to co-ordinate a Christian response to issues of public concern. That body continues to this day, under the name 'Heads of Christian Denominations.' In general, the Bishops statements and the work of Justice and Peace were greatly appreciated by the African population but not welcomed by most European Catholics. In June 1974 the committee of the Chichester Club, a group of Catholic business and professional men in Salisbury wrote to Pope Paul VI, asking him 'in the interests of peace, racial harmony and justice in Rhodesia to forthwith remove Bishop Lamont from this country and from Africa.' In the same year the Bishops admitted that 'any document bearing the signatures of the RCBC, especially if it includes that of the Bishop of Umtali, is almost completely counter-productive as far as the majority of Europeans are concerned.’ After Independence in 1980 the Bishops continued, and continue to hold Government to account, addressing issues of human rights, and peace and justice, but they have also written powerfully on other, more churchrelated issues. More than fifty pastoral letters, statements and messages have appeared and are currently available in the two volume book, 'ZCBC Pastoral Letters,' 2015. A word about the Secretaries General; over the years the post has been held by Frs Kevin Kinnane OFM, Richard Randolph SJ, Emmanuel Mavudzi, Bishop Patrick Mutume, Frs Anthony Berridge SJ, Walter Nyatsanza and Fradereck Chiromba. The usual term of office is six years, but some did more than that, others rather less. Mention should be made of Fr Randolph, appointed communications secretary when the Conference was established in 1969 he went on to serve as secretary general spending some thirteen years in the secretariat. He was responsible for setting up systems, finding the first offices and organising funding. This last he did by centralising all church insurance and appointing himself as chief agent, thereby earning a commission from the insurance company which covered the expenses of the secretariat. 16