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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Pastoral
statement on Harmonized Elections March 2008
Churches in Manicaland
March 28, 2008
We call
upon all people to:
- Exercise
your right to vote freely according to your conscience and to
vote in peace.
- Be assured
that your vote is private and the choice you make is known only
to you.
- Respect the
right of others to vote according to their own choice.
- Refuse to
participate in intimidatory behavior.
- Focus your
behavior on the ethics of equality, truth and mercy.
- Pray that
the people's desire for a peaceful electoral process will
be honored in our country.
We
call upon all political party Leaders and all Candidates to:
- Refrain
from using force to gain votes for your party.
- Desist from
using unemployed youth in intimidatory and destructive activities.
- Urge your
party members to respect the right of others to vote for whom
they wish.
- Present
your party's platform in a non-violent manner and
promote dialogue as an alternative to force.
We
call upon law enforcement agents to:
- Ensure that
there is no one above the law in Zimbabwe.
- Carry out
your responsibilities without fear and without prejudice.
- Be quick
to respond and intervene in situations of violence and use legal
and peaceful means of controlling violence.
Bring to justice through the system approved by the Constitution
those people who have broken the law, including those who have
done so in pursuit of party politics.
We
call upon our youth and the unemployed in our country to:
- Recognize
that you are the backbone of this country.
- Use your
strength to build the Zimbabwe you hope for.
- Refuse to
be used by others who want to bring chaos and violence to the
community.
- Press upon
other youth the need to refrain from behavior that is intimidatory,
violent, and disrespectful of people and their property.
We
call upon agents of the news media to:
- Be accessible
to all political parties contesting the elections and report their
views fairly.
- Be responsible
for the dissemination of truth during this volatile time.
- Be committed
to professional journalistic ethics as they are articulated and
promoted world-wide.
We
call upon all traditional leaders to:
- Refrain
from being partisan.
- Be instruments
of peace and justice.
- Continue
to be custodians of our cultural virtues and traditions, by fostering
a spirit of tolerance, co-existence.
We
call upon the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to:
- Ensure that
polling booths and their environment are managed in such a way
that voters can cast their ballots without intimidation.
- Make provisions
for adequate access to polling stations so that all registered
voters can cast their votes
Ensure that all people who handle ballots and ballot boxes do
so with due honesty, integrity and respect.
As church leaders
in Manicaland we are available to all people regardless of political
affiliation for counseling, prayer and discussion on the future
of our nation. We invite you to pray that God may use each one of
us as instruments of peace during these coming elections and after.
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