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Zimbabwe National Pastors' Conference statement on "Operation Restore Order"
Zimbabwe National Pastors' Conference
May 29, 2005

"Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who help the poor honour Him" - (Proverbs 14: 31)

The Zimbabwe National Pastors’ Conference notes, with great concern the ongoing so called clean up operation being carried out by the police with the support of the Harare City Commission and the Government.

Our members who are doing pastoral work in the areas targeted by this operation have reported that the police was very provocative, offensive and unsympathetic to the feelings of the people. The police were singing songs like " tasvika vekubvondora" (the destroyers have arrived) "basa tasiya tapedza" ( we have accomplished our task with success ) while they were randomly destroying sources of livelihood for the urban poor. This display of lack of compassion in the face of human suffering and misery gives us every reason to intervene as a pastoral obligation both to the police and the victims of their operation.

We need to be reminded that most of the affected traders started their street trading within a policy framework called ESAP which resulted in many workers loosing their jobs from the formal sector. Are we now to believe that these people were misled by the same sitting government that has now mercilessly turned against them? Our concern is purely pastoral. We strongly believe that the prevailing levels of unemployment are fuelling poverty and forcing people onto the streets to seek alternative forms of livelihood. This situation has created conditions of dehumanisation and highly compromising human dignity.

We all have a God given obligation to fight the root cause of poverty and all its manifestations. We call upon this government to engage in a war against poverty and not against the poor. Yes, the City of Harare and other urban centres must be kept clean but the visibility of these street traders is simply a manifestation of the economic depression which we are experiencing. No amount of police action will sweep this current reality under the carpet. In a situation with over 80% rate of unemployment, shortages of basic commodities, fuel and foreign currency, we need informed policy action and not police action in order to make life bearable for the poor. God has called us to be witnesses to life and its fullness (john 10:10)

We therefore get concerned when conditions are created that expose God’s people to unnecessary suffering, Our prayers and solidarity are with most people who are seeking honest ways of earning a living but find themselves victims of the current police operation.

Pastor Ray Motsi - National Chairman
Pastor Joseph T. Munemo - National Secretary

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