wfn.org | LWF Urges Ecumenical, International Support for Zimbabwe's Reconstruction

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LWF Urges Ecumenical, International Community Support for
Zimbabwe's Reconstruction
General Secretary Noko Welcomes Political Agreement

GENEVA, 18 September 2008 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) welcomes the recent agreement for a unity government in
Zimbabwe as "a reasonable compromise for peace" and an opportune
moment that demands an ecumenical response from the churches at
national and international levels.

In a statement issued today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr
Ishmael Noko notes that while the wider global community had
indicated it would wait and see how the agreement works in
practice, he cautions such a position was "a strategy for
failure" during an opportune moment. "Like the political leaders
in Zimbabwe, the international community must put other
considerations aside, and focus on the welfare of Zimbabweans,"
urges Noko.

The LWF general secretary pays tribute to the role of African
regional leadership, especially South African President Thabo
Mbeki, in brokering the 15 September power-sharing deal between
the Zimbabwe African National Union  - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)
and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) parties.
He underscores continued accompaniment of the process  "to
encourage and support the implementation of the commitments the
parties have made."

The agreement effectively ends a standoff over the winner of
disputed presidential elections in March 2008, which
significantly aggravated an already serious political and
economic crisis. Under the deal, President Robert Mugabe remains
the head of state while MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will assume
the new position of prime minister.

Noko urges solidarity with the country's churches, which have
been caught up in the crisis "and have all suffered together with
the people." He underlines the prophetic calling of the national
and international ecumenical community to exemplify unity and
compassion in the complex process of national reconstruction. The
people of Zimbabwe "deserve our support in this long-awaited but
fragile moment of hope," he adds.

The LWF is present in the country through its member church, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, and Lutheran Development
Service - Zimbabwe, the Department for World Service associate
program. (335 words)

The full text of the general secretaryâ??s statement is
available on the LWF Web site at,
http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Statement_on_Zimbabwe-09-2008 _EN.pdf

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 141 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 million. The LWF acts
on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such
as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information
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