Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Fides Service)- “Violence has really made its home among us” Christian leaders in Zimbabwe said in a joint Letter issued to mark the 25th anniversary of the country’s independence. In the Letter “Call to Conscience”, signed by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) Chairman of the Heads of Christian Denominations, the leaders say “We are familiar with the increase in robberies in our cities and towns”. In recent years Zimbabwe has experienced a social, political and economic crisis, recently aggravated a “restore Order” police operation criticised by many including an ecumenical delegation from South Africa on a recent visit to Zimbabwe (see Fides 30 May, 21 June and July 2005).
Violence is not only physical but also moral the leaders say in the letter signed for the Catholic Church by Bishop Michael D Bhasera of Masvingo President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference: “We know of the difficulty of people to obtain services in public offices. This is a kind of violence. We know that HIV and AIDS have spread among us because men have taken advantage of women, especially girls. This too is violence. And there is much evidence of public servants, particularly politicians, using violence to obtain what they want. We have allowed a culture of violence to persist among us since the time of the liberation war”.
“As we reflect on our first twenty-five years as an independent country - the leaders say - we are conscious that the values we live now are not altogether the ones we aspired to during the struggle and at the time of the raising of our multi-coloured flag at midnight on 17th April 1980 in Rufaro Stadium. Many speeches at that time put flesh on the idea of freedom. It was to mean equality of all before the law; equitable access to opportunities in education, employment, housing and land; the ability to associate with others; participation in the processes of decision-making and production. The list was impressive and inspiring. It amounted to the proclamation of a new state where all would be equal and free and where the instruments of the state would be used to promote the good of all the citizens. Reconciliation with old enemies was proclaimed. There was euphoria and an atmosphere not unlike that of a wedding feast”.
The authors of the letter say there has been progress in certain fields, such as that of education. “The school building programme of the 1980s was truly impressive. Similarly the health services were expanded: hospitals and clinics were built and medical staff welcomed from abroad, notably Cuba, to meet the shortfall among our own personnel. Opportunities opened up in business, industry and agriculture and in the public service. We improved roads and extended electricity to some rural”.
“Today the achievements of the 1980s look deeply flawed and the lofty sentiments of that time tawdry. The reality in our homes and schools, our hospitals and public buildings, is one of bleak decay. Our money loses value between the time it is put into our pocket and the time it is taken out and used. Most families in the country focus on how to find their next meal. Planning for the future is a forgotten luxury” the Christian leaders say.
The way out of this situation is Christian hope and faith in Jesus Christ and commitment on all sides: “We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Lord of history. Many in roles of authority in this land say they are Christians .... While Government should play its part in enabling a people-driven Constitution to help consolidate the good and remedy some of the ills experienced in the past twenty five years, the Churches should intensify their efforts in the coming years in imparting the necessary social teaching based on the Gospel and skills in Nation and Peace building”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2005 righe 47 parole 573)
