Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Agenzia Fides)- The leaders of Christian Churches in Zimbabwe have appealed to the nation to dialogue as a means of resolving the current crisis. An Ecumenical Peace Initiative statement sent to Fides reads “Our country is in deep crisis. A crisis is an unstable situation of extreme danger and difficulty. Yet, it can also be turned into a moment of grace and of a new beginning, if those on all sides who are responsible for causing the crisis repent and heed the cry of the people.”
For some years Zimbabwe has been experiencing a serious political, economic and social crisis. The situation worsened with the recent arrest of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and a group of supporters. Later released, many including Tsvangirai had to be admitted to hospital for treatment of injuries due to beating in prison (see Fides 14 March 2007). Yesterday Tsvangirai left hospital in a wheel chair.
The policy of president Robert Mugabe is not only harshly criticised by the opposition it is also causing a split in the president’s own party. Mugabe who is 83 appears to have no intention of stepping down. A proposal to extend by two years his mandate which expires in 2008 appears to have been shelved but the President has already said he intends to stand in the next elections triggering tensions in the ruling party.
In this situation the leaders of Christian Churches in Zimbabwe declare “We affirm with a clear and unambiguous Yes our support of morally legitimate political authority. At the same time we say an equally clear and unambiguous No to power, or access to power, through violence, oppression and intimidation. We call on those who are responsible for the current crisis in our country to repent and listen to the cry of their citizens. To the people of Zimbabwe we appeal for peace and restraint when expressing their justified grievances and demonstrating for their human rights”.
They say there are Christians on all sides of the conflict and there are many ‘sitting on the fence’. “Active members of our Parish and Pastoral Councils are prominent officials at all levels of the ruling party. Equally distinguished and committed office-bearers of the opposition parties actively support church activities in every parish, province and diocese. They all profess their loyalty to the same Church. They are all baptised, sit and pray and sing together in the same church, take part in the same celebration of the Eucharist and partake in the same Body of Christ. While the next day, outside the church, a few steps away, they fight among themselves, with yet other Christians standing by and watching helplessly, pleading for peace and reconciliation. The orgy of violence being demonstrated in this nation at this moment leaves a lot to be desired, as it will only lead this nation into irreversible conflict.”
The leaders, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches urge the entire nation to undertake dialogue as a means of resolving the current crisis and build a country a worthy member of the international community with institutions of democracy and good government respect of the rights of every citizen. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/3/2007 righe 38 parole 468)
