Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Kwazulu-natal churches speak out on Zimbabwe
Kwazulu- Natal Christian Council
April 09, 2008

KwaZulu-Natal churches and church organizations have called for intervention in the Zimbabwean situation by the South African government and leaders of SADC countries to ensure that the presidential election results are released without further delay - and that the results are honoured.

They announced an international Weekend of Prayer for Zimbabwe between 18 and 20 April, inviting people of all faiths to offer prayers in their churches, mosques, synagogues and temples.

They stressed the urgent need for observer missions and solidarity delegations to go to Zimbabwe over the next few weeks in preparation for a possible run-off election and to disseminate accurate information about the situation in that country.

These resolutions were passed at a meeting in Pietermaritzburg on 8 April at which a ten-person delegation organized by the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) and the Anglican Diocese of Natal in collaboration with the Solidarity Peace Trust of Zimbabwe, reported on the recent elections.

Each member of the KZN delegation stayed in communities in north or south Zimbabwe, some of them in remote rural areas. They were struck by the great poverty and hunger which has resulted from Mugabe's failed economic policies. Nevertheless, the delegates' presence, prayers and encouragement was welcomed and they were asked by ordinary Zimbabweans to ensure that their demand for change would be heard by the international community.

In assessing the Zimbabwean elections, the report-back meeting stated its belief that the freeness, fairness and peacefulness of an election should not be assessed simply on what happens on election day, but on the climate created in the preceding weeks and months. During that period the Mugabe regime continued to use police intimidation; banned critical media and observers; gerrymandered constituencies; packed the electoral commission with its supporters and barred a potentially vast postal vote by Zimbabwean exiles.

While the election day itself gave great hope and expectation, the report-back meeting was concerned that Zimbabwe was now becoming increasingly tense because of:

• the delay in releasing the presidential election results;
• the Zanu-PF call for a recount of the votes, and their court challenge to the results in a number of parliamentary constituencies;
• the arrest of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission staff for allegedly under-counting some votes;
• the invasion of farms by "war vets";
• biased state media which give vastly more time to reports about Zanu-PF than to the MDC, which is consistently presented in a negative light;
• the fact that while the MDC has not been able to publicly celebrate their victory in the parliamentary elections for fear of a security crackdown, "war vets" have marched in the streets of Harare with the protection of a police escort;
• the arrest and deportation of journalists and media workers.

Despite these trying circumstances, it will be necessary for the people of Zimbabwe to continue displaying great discipline.

The KZNCC report back meeting was attended by the Mayor of Pietermaritzburg, Councillor Zanele Hlatshwayo. She commended the delegation which had made the solidarity visit to Zimbabwe and said that she fully understood their concerns and those of the KZN churches and church organizations as presented in the meeting.

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