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Zimbabwe's Problems Will Not Prevent WCC Assembly


From PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org
Date 04 Apr 1998 17:26:45

24-March-1998 
98096 
 
    Zimbabwe's Problems Will Not Prevent 
    WCC Assembly, Raiser Says 
 
    by Eunice Mafundikwa 
    Ecumenical News International 
 
HARARE, Zimbabwe-Economic problems and recent social unrest in Zimbabwe 
will not deter the World Council of Churches (WCC) from holding its Eighth 
Assembly in Harare in December this year, the organization's general 
secretary, Konrad Raiser, said in a March 18 interview here. 
 
    Earlier this month, Zimbabwe workers held a two-day general strike 
because of the worsening economic situation, and in January rioting and 
looting broke out in Zimbabwe following massive price rises. 
 
    In an interview shortly before leaving Harare yesterday after a 
five-day visit, Raiser said that as in other parts of the world, tensions 
and conflicts were evident in this Southern African country. 
 
    "I am not a prophet, but I am sure I can say these events - at least, 
those experienced so far - will not disrupt proceedings of the [WCC's] 
Eighth Assembly," Raiser told ENI.  The WCC expects that the Assembly, from 
Dec. 3 to 14, will bring about 4,000 participants to the Zimbabwean 
capital. 
 
    Raiser, who with a team of WCC staff was visiting Harare to meet local 
church leaders and assess progress in preparing for the Assembly, said he 
was "quite satisfied" with preparatory arrangements. All was in order with 
the University of Zimbabwe, where the Assembly will take 
place, he said. 
 
    Raiser was particularly pleased to note that "so many churches" were 
involved in preparations. 
 
    He was also impressed by the "genuine interest and hope that the 
ecumenical event" would include Roman Catholic participation, even though 
the Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC. While in Harare, Raiser 
held a meeting with four local Catholic bishops. 
 
    Raiser's optimism for a successful Assembly was supported by Harare's 
executive mayor, Councillor Solomon Tawengwa. At a reception for Raiser 
March 17, the mayor pledged the city's 
support for the Assembly. 
 
    "We believe that Harare has everything it takes to successfully host a 
conference of any magnitude," Councillor Tawengwa said. "I wish to assure 
you that while we admit we have economic problems - that, after all, are 
not anything to write home about - we are committed to resolving them 
fairly and programmatically as a nation without resorting to what I would 
term confrontational, primitive ways of resolving issues." 
 
    With Africa poised to take center stage in the ecumenical movement in 
the next millennium, Raiser said, it was only appropriate that the WCC 
Assembly be held in Africa. As the Assembly reviewed past achievements, it 
would also chart the way forward for the WCC. 
 
    A specific plenary session will discuss Africa's problems of 
reconstruction, particularly the continent's huge debt burden, hunger and 
poverty. As the WCC celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation in 
1948, the Assembly, in keeping with the biblical notion of jubilee, is 
expected to call on the developed nations to forgive Africa's debt, 
according to Raiser. 
 
    "In the Bible we learn that the 50th year is one for liberation, 
release, restitution and debt forgiveness," Raiser said. "It is this 
teaching that we would want put to practical terms. It is a central concern 
for rectifying social justice." 
 
    Raiser did not see Zimbabwe's leader, President Robert Mugabe, during 
this visit, but he has met him on previous visits. Local church leaders 
will give President Mugabe an official invitation to the opening of the 
Assembly. 
 
    Asked by ENI to comment on  a proposal by the Zimbabwe Council of 
Churches calling for the nation to be officially declared Christian, Raiser 
said that move did not reflect "complete adherence of the total population 
to the Christian faith."  (Most of  Zimbabwe's population of 11 
million hold traditional, indigenous beliefs.) 
 
    He said any declaration making a nation officially Christian was very 
difficult to implement in any country, including Zimbabwe, whose 
constitution provided for religious freedom. 
 
    "Defining the place of religion in a constitution is usually a 
problem," Raiser said. "Actually this matter must become an issue of common 
ecumenical reflection because decisions of this nature in one country may 
have serious implications globally." 

------------
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