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SCMZ statement on the Universal Day of Prayer for Students 2012
Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ)
February 13, 2012

"Have true scales, true weights and measures for all things l am the Lord your God ..."Leviticus 19:36

The Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ) joins the rest of the Christian students' community around the world in commemorating the 2012 Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS). The UDPS is one of the longest established ecumenical events first celebrated on the 13th of February 1898. All Christian students around the world join together in February each year for the observance of the Universal Day of Prayer for Students. For more than a century students and friends have observed this day of prayer as a way to express their common commitment as witnesses of our faith in God and in each other to the world both inside and outside our academic communities.

As SCMZ, we strongly believe that it is true that there are added benefits from true agreement in prayer by even two or three followers of Christ and on his authority. Thus belief that no limit can be placed on the united intercession of Christians throughout the world. The liturgy for the UDPS 2012 is on the theme of "Economic Justice". Economic Justice is concerned with the equitable sharing of God's given resources in production, consumption and distribution on the one hand and caring for the earth on the other. It is a call for the eradication of poverty, advocating for just policies in international trade, just and ethical financial policies, and promotion of decent work and just remunerations. It is about bridging the gap between the rich and the poor while recognising the limitless economic growth within a predetermined planet.

As the World of Christian students commemorate this day, SCMZ would like to express its concern on the prevailing economic injustices that have been and still in existence up to present day, as part of the governance systems of most African Governments, Zimbabwe included. We continue to pursue that all states create equal economic opportunities for everyone, hence we stand firmly with (Deuteronomy 25:13-16), which states that a "full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly are an abomination to the Lord your God."

In Zimbabwe most young people are not employed, not politically and economically empowered, while those that claim to be educated are regrettably even failing to get to the positions to which they are qualified to, all because there are high levels of corruption, nepotism and fraud to mention but a few. In some instances there is structural violence which is aimed at disadvantaging those at the bottom [those not in power of the public office], thus we strongly believe in the power of joining hands with the other Christian students in prayer for economic justice in our beloved country Zimbabwe.

We believe that a democratically planned global economy is needed to eradicate poverty in the world, with our democratically elected governments taking the lead to address the root causes of poverty, provide for basic needs for all and ensure that the poor have access to productive resources, including credit, education and training. It is high time poverty eradication be mainstreamed into policies and actions in accordance with the internationally agreed development goals. This promotes people centred approach to poverty eradication advocating for the empowerment of people living in poverty through their full participation in all aspects of political, economic and social life. Thus ultimately helping in the prevention of the manifestations of poverty which include hunger, limited access to education and other basic services as well as the lack participation in decision making.

We take this day as an even bigger motivation for the Movement to continue in this work, especially that this year is committed to the youth empowerment processes. We pray in faith that in this day the Lord of Armies be a crown of glory, and a fair ornament, to the rest of his people.(Isaiah 28:5).

Visit the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe fact sheet

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