wfn.org | Anglican Primates' Statement on Zimbabwe

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> Primates' Statement on Zimbabwe

Posted On : February 3, 2009 4:15 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/2/3/ACNS4568
Related Categories: ACO - Primates Meeting

The Primates of the Anglican Communion, meeting in Alexandria, Egypt on
3rd February, 2009, heard first hand reports of the situation in
Zimbabwe, and note with horror the appalling difficulties of the people
of this nation under the current regime.

We give thanks to God for the faithful witness of the Christians of
Zimbabwe during this time of pain and suffering, especially those who
are being denied access to their churches. We wish to assure them of our
love, support and prayers as they face gross violation of human rights,
hunger and loss of life as well as the scourge of a cholera epidemic,
all due directly to the deteriorating socio-political and economic
situation in Zimbabwe.

It is a matter of grave concern that there is an apparent breakdown of
the rule of law within the country, and that the democratic process is
being undermined, as shown in the flagrant disregard of the outcome of
the democratic elections of March 31st 2008, so that Mr Robert Mugabe
illegitimately holds on to power. Even the recent political situation of
power sharing, brokered by SADC, may not be long lasting and simply
further entrench Mr Mugabe's regime.   There appears to be a total
disregard for life, consistently demonstrated by Mr Mugabe through
systematic kidnap, torture and the killing of Zimbabwean people. The
economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed, as evidenced by the use of foreign
currencies in an independent state.

We therefore call upon President Robert Mugabe to respect the outcome of
the elections of 2008 and to step down. We call for the implementation
of the rule of law and the restoration of democratic processes.

We request that the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chair of the
Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, in consultation with the Church
of the Province of Central Africa, commission a Representative to go to
Zimbabwe to exercise a ministry of presence and to show solidarity with
the Zimbabwean people. We also request the President of the All Africa
Conference of Churches and the Chairman of the Council of Anglican
Provinces in Africa to facilitate a meeting with the African Union
president and other African political leaders (especially those of SADC)
to highlight the plight of the Zimbabwean peoples.

We call upon parishes throughout the Anglican Communion to assist the
Anglican Communion Office, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Office and the
Anglican Observer to the United Nations in addressing the humanitarian
crisis by giving aid through such mechanisms as the Archbishop of
Canterbury is able to designate, and asking that Lambeth Palace
facilitate processes by which food and other material aid for Zimbabwe
can be distributed through the dioceses of the Church of the Province of
Central Africa.

We urge the Churches of the Anglican Communion to join with the Anglican
Church of Southern Africa in observing Wednesday 25th February 2009, Ash
Wednesday, as a day of prayer and solidarity with the Zimbabwean people.

As representatives of the Anglican Communion, we reiterate that we do
not recognise the status of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga and Bishop Elson
Jakazi as bishops within the Anglican Communion, and call for the full
restoration of Anglican property within Zimbabwe to the Church of the
Province of Central Africa.

We affirm the initiative of the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist (ACSA)
in collaboration with Lambeth Palace, the Anglican Communion Office and
the Church of the Province of Central Africa in establishing a
chaplaincy along the Zimbabwe-South Africa border for the pastoral care
of the many refugees, and call upon the Anglican Communion to support
this work.

> ENDS

> 3 February 2009

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