wfn.org | LWF Council Press Release No. 05-2008

["Colette Muanda" <cmu@lutheranworld.org>]

*Apologies for any double mailing, for technical reasons.

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LWF Council Calls for Urgent Peace Building Process in Zimbabwe
LWF Member Churches Asked to Pray for Zimbabwe on 6 July 

ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 26 June 2008 (LWI) - On the eve of the
scheduled presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe on 27 June,
the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called for
the urgent establishment of a peace building process in the
country, incorporating all national actors, regional
organizations and the international community. 

In a 26 June Public Statement, the Council urged the
international community to exercise its legitimate role in
addressing the crisis in the country.

“The world must not stand idly by, as it did during the
genocide in Rwanda, and watch the unfolding of a human
catastrophe,” stated the Council. The LWF governing body is
meeting 25-30 June in Arusha, northern Tanzania, hosted by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

The Council pointed out that the result of any presidential
run-off election conducted under the current circumstances should
not be recognized by the international community.

It especially denounced the systematic, organized,
politically-motivated intimidation and violence whereby the
current government has sought to retain power.

The LWF Council members said attacks on Zimbabweans for
exercising their right of democratic choice were directly
contrary to the purpose of the country’s struggle for
liberation from colonial rule.

They noted that the conditions under which the 29 March first
round of elections were conducted were far from ideal and had
already demonstrated that the current government had lost the
trust and support of Zimbabweans. 

The Council members especially welcomed the rising expression of
concern from African political, religious and community leaders.
They however called on the Southern African Development
Community, African Union, and all African leaders, to take a more
active role in promoting human security in Zimbabwe and
encouraging a political transition back to the democracy.  

The LWF governing body called upon all LWF member churches to
pray on Sunday, 6 July for peace with justice for all
Zimbabweans. (335 words)

The full text of the Council’s Public Statement on Zimbabwe
follows:

>LWF Council Public Statement on Zimbabwe

1. The Council of the Lutheran World Federation, meeting in
Arusha, Tanzania, on the eve of the scheduled presidential
run-off election in Zimbabwe on 27 June, calls for an immediate
end to political violence and repression in that country, and the
restoration of the democracy for which so many Zimbabweans have
struggled and died.

2. The Lutheran World Federation has long been gravely concerned
by the disastrous economic, humanitarian and political situation
in Zimbabwe. Today, we join former South African President Nelson
Mandela in declaring that there has been a “tragic failure of
leadership” in Zimbabwe. Indeed, the policies and practices of
the current government have undermined the most basic political,
economic and social rights of Zimbabweans.

3. We especially denounce the systematic, organized,
politically-motivated intimidation and violence whereby the
current government has sought to retain power. We note that the
perpetrators of that intimidation and violence have not hesitated
to target church leaders and clergy, as well as opposition party
leaders and members, media representatives, academics, specific
groups within Zimbabwean society, and anyone thought to have
voted for the opposition in the 29 March elections. The attacks
on Zimbabweans for exercising their right of democratic choice
are directly contrary to the purpose of the struggle for
Zimbabwe’s liberation from colonial rule.

4. All governments have a responsibility to ensure the safety,
security and welfare of their citizens. Therefore, the government
of Zimbabwe must act to prevent political violence by whoever
committed it. Its failure to do so, and its apparent complicity
in the violent repression, calls into question this
government’s legitimacy. 

5. The outcome of the 29 March elections - themselves conducted
in far from ideal conditions - has already demonstrated that this
government has lost the trust and support of Zimbabweans.  The
result of any presidential run-off election conducted under the
current circumstances should not be recognized by the
international community. We deeply regret the government of
Zimbabwe to postpone the election and to take effective measures
to ensure minimum conditions for a free and fair democratic
process.

6. The international community has a legitimate interest and
role to play in addressing the crisis in Zimbabwe. The world must
not stand idly by, as it did during the genocide in Rwanda, and
watch the unfolding of a human catastrophe. We welcome the fact
that the United Nations Security Council has finally begun to
address this matter by issuing a statement.

7. We especially welcome the rising chorus of concern from
African political, religious and community leaders. We call on
the Southern African Development Community and the African Union,
and all African leaders, to take a more active role in promoting
human security in Zimbabwe and encouraging a political transition
back to the democracy that Zimbabweans have a right to expect.

8. Therefore, we call for the urgent establishment of a process
for building peace in Zimbabwe in which all national actors,
regional organizations and the international community are
engaged.

9. For its part, the Lutheran World Federation stands ready to
support the people of Zimbabwe in rebuilding their nation, and in
restoring their betrayed hopes of a life in dignity and justice.

10. We call upon all LWF member churches to pray on Sunday 6
July for peace with justice for all Zimbabweans.

>*         *           *

There are around 170 participants in this year’s Council
meeting including church leaders, officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and
translators, LWF staff and co-opted staff and accredited media. 

The Council is the LWF’s governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was
appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It
comprises the President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the
Assembly. Other members include advisors, lay and ordained
persons, representing the different LWF regions.

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>Editor’s E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

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