An expert in Criminal Law and International Private Law, Dr. Andyna Lima says the huge investment in Education by the government of Cape Verde is the reason behind the success story of religious tolerance in the country.
Cape Verde is rated the fourth most religious tolerant country in Arica after Cote d’ Ivoire, Gabon and Zimbabwe by Afro Barometer survey in 2020.
Dr. Lima was a guest speaker at the ongoing delocalised joint committee meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament in Praia, Capital of Cape Varde, with the theme : Religious Tolerance and Harmony: essential factors for Development, Peace and stability in the ECOWAS Region.
The joint committees include Education, Science and Culture/ Health and Telecommunications and Information Technology.
According to Dr. Lima, 93% of Cape Verde’s population are educated as at present , a far departure of what was obtained during the pre- colonial era, when the literate population stood at only 40%.
Cape Verde, an island in West Africa , officially discovered in 1462 by the Portuguese , got its independence in 1975.
Dr. Lima said the government after independence, paid priority to education and that between 1979 and 1990 about 51, 000 citizens were educated , of which 58 % were women.
Today, she added, government provides free primary and secondary education to its citizens while people living with disability also have free access to education up to the university level, a development that has earned the country accolades at the global stage.
“We have earned the trust of international community and even credit from some government and financial institutions globally who have seen or found cape verds as an enabling environment for business and so Cape Verde is a country to do business.
“We have very moderate resources, our main income earnings is tourism but this has worsen because of the pandemic. So currently our resources include, soil, wind and ocean”.
The legal expert said apart from education, the other key policies that has enhanced religious tolerance in cape Verde were legal frame work and creation of social institutions.
According to her, the country’s constitution promotes liberty and any aberration of the law which includes desecration or destruction of a worship centre was regarded as a great offence.
“The constitution of the Cape Varde recognises a number of rights . Article 25, recognises right to religious freedom and worship and guarantees that nobody should be denied that right.
Also Article 48, recognises the right to religious conscience and worship, this is another inalienably right. Everyone has the right to hold religious conviction of their choice and to freely participate in act of worship and freely express their faith and conviction while not harming others in the process.
She further stated that the constitution forbids that any place or symbol of worship should be desecrated or mimicked.
“Any violation of the right of worship has been criminalised and what is also criminalised is the decertation of places of worship and symbols which is could be punishable by 18 months imprisonment. The criminal code also criminalises the attempt to impede worship , and could attract 18 months imprisonment .”
Dr. Lime concluded that the legal frame work has promoted social peace, political stability and security which has reflected not only internally but in its interaction with other countries.
“Cape is a country of immigrants and its tolerance helps us in welcoming immigrants from fellow ECOWAS states. It helps in the process of integration and acceptance of immigrants who practice diverse religion.” END
