Maravi

Zim Churches express concern over post-election violence

Zim Churches express concern over post-election violence
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Saturday April 26, 2008 [04:00]

THE church in Zimbabwe has called for international intervention to arrest the deteriorating political and security situation in the country in order to prevent genoide. And the church has demanded that youth militia and war veterans or military base camps that have been set up in different parts of the country should be closed.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating political, security, economic and human rights situation in the country after the March 29 elections.

"As shepherds of the people, we appeal to the Southern African Development Community SADC, the African Union AU and the United Nations to work towards arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

We warn the world that if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hot spots in Africa and elsewhere," the church stated.

"We appeal for the immediate end to political intimidation and retribution arising from how people are perceived to have voted in the March 29, 2008 elections and arising from the desire to influence how people will vote in the anticipated run-off in the presidential poll.
"Youth militia and war veteran or military base camps that have been set up in different parts of the country should be closed as a step towards restoring the peace and freedom of people's movement that was witnessed before and during the March 29, 2008 elections."
The church appealed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to release the true results of the presidential polls without further delay.

"The unprecedented delay in the publication of these results has caused anxiety, frustration, depression, suspicion and in some cases illness among people of Zimbabwe both home and abroad. A pall of despondency hangs over the nation, which finds itself in a crisis of expectations and governance.

The nation is in a crisis, in limbo and no real business is taking place anywhere as the nation waits," the church stated.

"To the people of Zimbabwe, you played your part when you turned out to vote on March 29, 2008. We again, commend you for exercising your democratic right peacefully. At this difficult time in our nation, we urge you to maintain and protect your dignity and your vote.

"We urge you to refuse to be used for a political party or other people's selfish end especially where it concerns violence against other people, including those who hold different views from your own.

As the shepherds of God's flock, we shall continue to speak on behalf of Zimbabwe's suffering masses and we pray that God's will be done."

The church stated that reports coming through its members countrywide indicated that the peaceful environment that existed before had regrettably changed.

"Organised violence perpetrated against individuals, families and communities who are accused of campaigning or voting for the 'wrong' political party in the March 29, 2008 elections has been unleashed throughout the country, particularly in the countryside and in some high density urban areas," the church stated.

"People are being abducted, tortured, humiliated by being asked to repeat slogans of the political party they are alleged not to support, ordered to attend mass meetings where they are told they voted for the 'wrong' candidate and should never repeat it in the run-off election for president, and, in some cases, people are murdered."

The church further stated that the deterioration in the humanitarian situation was plummeting at a frightful pace.

"The cost of living has gone beyond the reach of the majority of our people. There is widespread famine in most parts of the countryside on account of poor harvests and delays in the process of importing maize from neighbouring countries.

The shops are empty and basic foodstuffs are unavailable. Victims of organised torture who are ferried to hospital find little solace as the hospitals have no drugs or medicines to treat them," stated the church.

Labels: ELECTIONS, NEOCOLONIALISM, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:10 AM