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Statement on the Church and state dialogue meeting with President Robert Mugabe at State House on May 25, 2006
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) & Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop's Conference
June 14, 2006

"See what trouble we are in because Jerusalem is in ruins and its gates are destroyed! Let’s rebuild the city walls and put an end to our disgrace." Nehemiah 2 vs. 17.

Having sought and been granted an audience with His Excellency President Robert Mugabe to discuss the pressing issues of Zimbabwe and having been strengthened by the regional Church i.e. the Fellowship of Councils of Churches in Southern Africa ahead of the meeting, we the Zimbabwean Church leadership hereby give feed back to the nation on what transpired and on the possibilities for the way forward.

Background
In February 2006, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) produced a Pastoral Letter, which was distributed amongst member Churches and other stakeholders. The Letter addresses the socio-economic and political climate of the country, rising corruption, the land reform and disruptions, and the constitutional problems amongst other issues.

This was a culmination of the collective search for solutions in a more comprehensive manner to the on-going multi-layered problems facing Zimbabwe. The Pastoral Letter led to the invitation by President Robert Mugabe to the Church Leaders who included the ZCC and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) to discuss ways in which the Church could participate in the solving of the country’s problems.

In order to be as inclusive and broad based as possible, the Fellowship of Councils of Churches in Southern Africa (FOCCISA) to which the ZCC is a member had to come on board. Through its communication service arm EDICISA, FOCCISA had the opportunity to meet with the ZCC leadership prior to their meeting with the President to express their solidarity and strengthen their colleagues ahead of their meeting.

Thus the Pastoral Letter opened the doors for the Church to influence the political processes in Zimbabwe and this was demonstrated through the meeting of the Church Leaders and the President on May 25 at the State House.

The Church, therefore sees this as an opportunity for it to help in bringing about lasting solutions to the problems bedeviling Zimbabwe considering that it came at a time when it is widely agreed that only the Church stands a chance of bringing about a better Zimbabwe which we all want. For we continue to be reminded that we are the light of the world and salt of the earth.

The meeting with the State President took nearly five hours of private intense discussions which the media was not privy to. What the media captured were introductory and ending remarks which had little bearing on the issues that were discussed which have now officially opened the door for dialogue. The Church is fully united behind this initiative serve for a few who may have their own agendas.

To the Church, this is meant to be an on-going process based on the following principles:

Need for a national approach
The pastoral letter presented to the President highlights several challenges confronting the nation, including endemic corruption, the state of the economy which has led to abject poverty, various abuses in the land reform programme, the deplorable state of our towns and cities, rising crime and the need for a new constitution. These challenges cannot be adequately met without a national approach and a shared vision for our country. It is the Church’s view that the maginitude of challenges confronting us require a national approach going beyond party politics.

The President admitted that there is still room for national reconciliation and the door is open for "honest" dialogue by Zimbabweans for the benefit of Zimbabwe. Those who only speak through the media for the benefit of the outside world are not genuinely engaged in nation building.

Acknowledgement of the Church-State relationship
During the meeting with the Church Leaders, President Mugabe acknowledged that the Church has a role to play in solving current problems. He acknowledged the role played by the Church in the provision of basic services such as education and health through mission schools and hospitals, as well as the provision of shelter and food to the marginalized.

It was acknowledged in the meeting that the Church and the State must play complementary roles in nation building. We are neither competitors nor rivals. We share the concern for the highest quality of life for all Zimbabweans in all its holistic dimensions. But in ensuring such a quality of life there are roles that can be uniquely played by the State, and other roles that can uniquely be played by the Church. In being salt and light to the world, the Church cannot shirk the responsibility of prayer and of being part of the national conscience. It is in that spirit that the Pastoral Letter was produced.

If the church is to play the role of national reconciliation it must safeguard its political neutrality and be guided by biblical convictions. We are different from those organizations which purport to speak for the church but are in reality a voice for either the ruling party or the opposition.

We are happy to report that the President invited the Church to link up with Government in confronting the various challenges before us. To the Church this is a major development as it has opened the doors for other stakeholders to come in and influence the socio-economic and political processes in Zimbabwe. This is not the time for partisan participation. As the Church it will be dereliction of duty not to seize this opportunity with the seriousness it deserves and quickly begin to lay down a comprehensive programme of action which is already being done.

Creation of Partnerships
It is the Church’s view that now that the doors have been opened at political level it is time for new partnerships with all the relevant stakeholders pulling together in trying to solve our problems. Already the regional Church, FOCCISA through EDICISA, has expressed its full willingness to walk with their Zimbabwean compatriots. The problems raised in the Pastoral Letter, which President Mugabe acknowledged, need a broad spectrum of players to solve them. With corruption being so endemic, inflation skyrocketing and the constitutional impediments so evident it will be fool-hardy to hope that only the government or the Church will be able to bring about a Zimbabwe that we want. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said that the meeting with the Church leadership was a first step towards an all-inclusive policy of engaging all stakeholders. It is time, therefore, for honest partnerships. The Church hopes that a new process of building these partnerships will begin following the opening up of the political leadership of this country.

Building of Bridges
From the on-set of the Zimbabwean crisis as it is known today a numbers of bridges were broken and this was acknowledged both by the State President and the Church leadership during the meeting.

To the Church this also counts for a positive development, as it is an opportunity for the Church to be part of the building of bridges, nationally, regionally and internationally. As has been observed, President Mugabe stated that there was still room for reconciliation and invited the Church to lead the way hence our involvement in this whole effort of building the bridges. Bridges and partnerships are possible in an atmosphere of honesty, transparency and mutual trust.

Already a process of building bridges with various local, regional and international stakeholders in the Zimbabwean equation is underway.

As we start this process of building bridges, may we rise as a nation of Zimbabwe and walk together in ensuring that we do what needs to be done and do the work of rebuilding the country.

Better is someone who is doing something to alleviate the suffering of our people than one who is busy tracking to see how wrong the process is. Zimbabweans, do not be deceived by fly by night messiahs who are formed out of your miseries for their own self-enrichment.. Many people enjoy the suffering of people as they can line their pockets with donor money while purporting to solve your problems. The Church in Zimbabwe through it’s umbrella bodies has been tried and tested and has only one resolve, that is to solve the situation in Zimbabwe even if it costs us attacks from our detractors.

Our interest is not in farms, food or money but in the upholding of the dignity of human life, the promotion of the sanctity of life and the establishment of the common good for all. We are umbrella bodies and not individual vigilante groups.

If we don’t dialogue, how do we hope to solve the perennial problems the country is facing. We need high level discussions that will unlock the political will to address the imbalances now existing in our nation. We are bold enough and have a mandate to pursue a course of action which will benefit our people.

Let’s pray for the nation as we traverse this difficult route to rebuild Zimbabwe.

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