|
Back to Index
Lobby
the Bishops and Church co-ordinators in SA
Network of
Independent Monitors (NIM)
May 28, 2002
Dear Friends,
I am the senior
program officer for NIM ( Network of Independent Monitors ) a Human
Rights NGO in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
During the 2002
Presidential elections in Zimbabwe, NIM deployed 55 monitors throughout
the length and breadth of Zimbabwe. We were not given accreditation
but we monitored anyway attaching ourselves to NGO’s and church
activists.
It was not surprising
therefore that our reports differed very widely from the official
SA observer mission report. NIM has in recent weeks been trying
to lobby the Church leaders in SA in particular the KwaZulu Natal
church leaders and the SACC.
The multi-sectoral
committee representing SA Government, SACC, labour , and industry
made up the SA observer mission. It would appear that the mission
itself is divided on the final version of their report ( few have
admitted to this).
NIM has been
trying to lobby the churches here to take a stronger position with
regards to Zimbabwe however it would appear that the SACC leadership
seems to hold a very similar view to that of the SA Government.
On Tuesday 21
May 2002, I was asked to present the report to the Kwazulu Natal
Church Leaders group. Present at that meeting was Dr Molefe Tsele
( SACC -Secretary General) who did a presentation as part of the
official SA observer mission. Dr Tsele dismissed us as being mouth
pieces for the opposition MDC. His presentation was no different
from that of a politician defending a SA government position. It
did not appear as though a Church person was speaking. He referred
to the video " Free and Fair" as MDC propaganda. He also
indicated his feelings that almost all NGOs are biased in favour
of the opposition and therefore any reports by them should be viewed
with caution.
The KwaZulu
Natal Church leaders (we believe) feel very strongly about the situation
in Zimbabwe. We are given to understand that they want the SACC
to take a proactive role in influencing government and Churches
here and in Zimbabwe to do more to stop the violation of human rights
in Zimbabwe.
We are informed
that a full meeting of the SACC is to take place on 5 June 2002
and the Zim Crisis is on the agenda.
My appeal to
all who read this is to send emails to the Bishops and Church coordinators
listed below, with information on what has been happening in your
particular area and your feelings about the perception that NGOs
in Zimbabwe are biased etc. It will also be useful to appeal to
the Bishops not to allow the church to be influenced by politicians
but rather they should defend the rights of the victims.
I believe that
by you having direct contact with our Bishops, you will be in a
position to greatly influence their perceptions on what is really
going on in Zim.
Attached please
find the names and email addresses of the Bishops.
Good luck and
thanks for all the hard work you guys are doing.
Regards
Selvan Chetty
Senior
Program Officer
Network
of Independent Monitors
Tel: +27
39 6825 869
Email
selvanc@venturenet.co.za
EMAIL ADDRESSES
OF SOUTH AFRICAN BISHOPS
1. Bishop Mvume
Dandala - 011 – 403 4292 - presbish@methchurch.org.za
2. Bishop Reuben
Phillips - 031 – 3092066 - rphillips@cpsa.org.za
3. Bishop Makhaye - 036
– 6373361 - makhaye@mweb.co.za
4. Bishop Purity
Malinga - 031 – 2023662
5. Bishop Elija
Twala - 031 – 5031674 - bishsuff@mweb.co.za
6. Bishop Njongokulu
Ndungane - 021 – 7612531 - archbish@bishopscourt-cpsa.org.za
7. Dr Molefe
Tsele - 011 – 2417815 - tmm@sacc.org.za
8. Cardinal
Wilfred Napier - 031 – 3031417 - chancery@durban-archdiocese.co.za
9. Mr Neville
Gabriel - 012-3236458 - ngabriel@sacbc.org.za
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
