From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Message from the Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe
From
George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>
Date
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:46:36 -0400
Message from the Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe
Concern over the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe:
Message from the Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe
As the shepherds of the people, we, Church leaders of the Evangelical
Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops'
Conference (ZCBC) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), express
our deep concern over the deteriorating political, security, economic
and human rights situation in Zimbabwe following the March 29, 2008
national elections.
Before the elections, we issued statements urging Zimbabweans to
conduct themselves peacefully and with tolerance towards those who
held different views and political affiliation from one's own. After
the elections, we issued statements commending Zimbabweans for the
generally peaceful and politically mature manner in which they
conducted themselves before, during and soon after the elections.
Reports that are coming through to us from our Churches and members
throughout the country indicate that the peaceful environment has,
regrettably, changed:
Given the political uncertainty, anxiety and frustration created by
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC's) failure to release the
results of the presidential poll 4 weeks after polling day:
Organized violence perpetrated against individuals, families and
communities who are accused of campaigning or voting for the "wrong"
political party in the March 29, 2008 elections has been unleashed
throughout the country, particularly in the countryside and in some
high density urban areas. People are being abducted, tortured,
humiliated by being asked to repeat slogans of the political party
they are alleged not to support, ordered to attend mass meetings
where they are told they voted for the "wrong" candidate and should
never repeat it in the run-off election for President, and, in some
cases, people are murdered.
The deterioration in the humanitarian situation is plummeting at a
frightful pace. The cost of living has gone beyond the reach of the
majority of our people. There is widespread famine in most parts of
the countryside on account of poor harvests and delays in the process
of importing maize from neighbouring countries. The shops are empty
and basic foodstuffs are unavailable. Victims of organized torture
who are ferried to hospital find little solace as the hospitals have
no drugs or medicines to treat them.
As the shepherds of the people, we appeal:
1. To the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the
African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to work towards
arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in
Zimbabwe. We warn the world that if nothing is done to help the
people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be
witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda,
Burundi and other hot spots in Africa and elsewhere.
2. For the immediate end to political intimidation and retribution
arising from how people are perceived to have voted in the March 29,
2008 elections and arising from the desire to influence how people
will vote in the anticipated run-off in the presidential poll. Youth
militia and war veteran/military base camps that have been set up in
different parts of the country should be closed as a step towards
restoring the peace and freedom of people's movement that was
witnessed before and during the March 29, 2008 elections.
3. To ZEC to release the true results of the presidential poll of
March 29, 2008 without further delay. The unprecedented delay in the
publication of these results has caused anxiety, frustration,
depression, suspicion and in some cases illness among people of
Zimbabwe both at home and abroad. A pall of despondency hangs over
the nation which finds itself in a crisis of expectations and
governance. The nation is in a crisis, in limbo and no real business
is taking place anywhere as the nation waits.
4. To, finally, the people of Zimbabwe themselves. You played your
part when you turned out to vote on 29 March 2008. We, again, commend
you for exercising your democratic right peacefully. At this
difficult time in our nation, we urge you to maintain and protect
your dignity and your vote. We urge you to refuse to be used for a
political party or other people's selfish end especially where it
concerns violence against other people, including those who hold
different views from your own. It was the Lord Jesus who said,
"Whatever you do to one of these little ones, you do it unto me
(Matthew 25:45).
We call on all Zimbabweans and on all friends of Zimbabwe to continue
to pray for our beautiful nation. As the shepherds of God's flock, we
shall continue to speak on behalf of Zimbabwe's suffering masses and
we pray that God's will be done.
We remain God's humble servants:
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ)
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC)
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC)
Heads of Christian denominations in Zimbabwe
P O Box CY 738
Causeway,
Harare
Telephone: 705368
Fax: 704001
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