Zimbabwe: A Political & Humanitarian Crisis
The Situation
Zimbabwe is a country in deep crisis. Over 3500 Zimbabweans die every week from malnutrition, poverty or AIDS. More than a third of the population are infected with the HIV virus. The average life expectancy has plummeted to an appalling 37 years for men and 34 years for women. The death rate in Zimbabwe currently exceeds that in Iraq, Afghanistan and Darfur combined. One in four children are orphans, the highest rate in the world. 60% of female children of school age are no longer at school.
The repressive policies of Robert Mugabe’s government have made the humanitarian situation desperate. The homes and/or livelihoods of 700,000 of Zimbabwe’s poorest people were physically destroyed (bulldozed) by government militias in 2005 in Operation Murambatsvina. Between 2000 and 2006 food production reduced by 60%; one in four of the population is now dependent on food handouts from the World Food Programme and donor countries. In the same time period GDP (gross domestic product) shrank by 40% (the fastest shrinking economy in the world outside a war zone) and the manufacturing sector reduced by three quarters. 80% of Zimbabwe’s workforce is unemployed. Inflation is running at about 20,000%, by far the highest in the world. The terrible problems cut across all areas of life. The health and education sectors are in a state of collapse. Fuel and energy supplies are scarce and the infrastructure is crumbling. An estimated 3 million out of a population of 12 million have fled the country, with the majority of these entering South Africa illegally.
After the events of this spring and the bogus election runoff hopes that this appalling situation was about to change have been dashed.
The Churches
The Zimbabwean judiciary and police force are heavily politicised. Many people who feel they have nowhere else to turn are looking to the Church for help. Sadly many of the mainstream churches and church leaders have been afraid to speak out and some have been complicit with the repressive regime. The climate of fear in Zimbabwe is overwhelming. But many courageous pastors and some senior church leaders, such as Archbishop Pius Ncube, are carrying out an exemplary ministry of truth telling, working with human rights organisations and providing a prophetic voice. Pastors and churches are also providing food and humanitarian care to the destitute in the face of government attempts to stop this work of compassion. They face much suffering for these acts of coming alongside Jesus, the Servant King, in ministering to those in deepest need. All live in dread of the knock on the door and arrival of the secret police.
What Can I Do?
It is the Christian duty of all in the world-wide
Church to stand in solidarity with our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in
Christ at this terrible time.
To read Allan Boesak's open letter of encouragement and solidarity to the
Zimbabwean churches click
here.
Become Informed.
There are many good websites with detailed information about the situation in Zimbabwe:
www.zimbabwesituation.com A comprehensive site for daily briefings
www.zwnews.com A selection of daily newspaper articles
www.solidaritypeacetrust.org Detailed research on human rights issues
www.davidcoltart.com Personal website of a Christian human rights lawyer and MP
www.swradioafrica.com Daily interest briefings from a radio station broadcasting into Zimbabwe
www.sokwanele.com A civic action support group
Pray
As we continue to pray towards the dawn of a new era of freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe, let us not forget either those who now suffer or those who stand with them:
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Those who suffer include the victims of torture, the 3,500 dying each week of hunger, malnutrition and AIDS and the 80 per cent of the population now below the poverty line. After a series of rigged elections and facing further abuses of state power, many have given up all hope of peaceful change.
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Those who stand with them include reporters telling the story of Zimbabwe’s suffering, activists exposing human rights abuses, pastors visiting the displaced – and, not least, the Zimbabwe Victims’ Support Fund volunteers feeding some of the poorest.
Lord, give us your heart of compassion for all who suffer in Zimbabwe today,
and something of your passion for truth and righteousness,
that we may prayerfully support those front line workers of your kingdom
seeking freedom and justice for all.
(Rev Graham Shaw)
Instruments of Peace
Give us courage, O Lord, to stand up and be counted,
to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves,
to stand up for ourselves when it is needful for us to do so.
Let us fear nothing more than we fear you.
Let us love nothing more than we love you,
for thus we shall fear nothing also.
Let us have no other God before you,
whether nation or party or state or church.
Let us seek no other peace but the peace which is yours,
and make us its instruments,
opening our eyes and our ears and our hearts,
so that we should know always what work of peace
we may do for you.
(Alan Paton)
With Great Boldness
Now, Lord, consider their threats
and enable your servants to speak your word
with great boldness.
Stretch out your hand to heal
and perform miraculous signs and wonders
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
(The believers’ prayer in Acts 4/20-30, following the release of the apostles Peter and John - and the prayer of Zimbabwe’s beleaguered church suffering under a brutal dictatorship)
Victory is Ours
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours through Him who loves us.
(Desmond Tutu)
God bless Africa
God bless Africa;
Guard her children,
Guide her rulers,
And give her peace
For Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen
(Trevor Huddleston)
Never underestimate the power of prayer, or how much your prayers are valued by those who live with daily violence, oppression and poverty. The following words were written by a Baptist pastor in Zimbabwe in response to a simple message of solidarity telling him that the congregations of Churches Together in Egremont and District are praying for the people of his community:
‘I am sitting here at the computer with an overwhelming sense of God’s love and amazed at his timing. I preached from 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 last night and titled it ‘Somebody’s Praying for You!’ Now today your email arrives with a list of so many pastors, representing so many parishes, people and places I’ve never heard of ... and you are praying for us! I am deeply moved, hugely encouraged, and once again, confident that the truth we preach in theory is actually our living Lord’s mind and heart for us right now! Please pass on my heartfelt thanks ... and let them know that it is things like this and moments of grace like this that help us Christians here in Zimbabwe know that God is keenly aware of our plight and immanently poised to act! Once again, I am dumbfounded by God’s timing and grace. I can’t wait to share this with our folks on Sunday. They will be very encouraged.’
Write to Your MP and MEP
Explain your concerns and what you know of the appalling humanitarian and human rights situation in. Zimbabwe. Ask what constructive action the Government / the European Parliament are taking to help Zimbabwe’s suffering people.
Give Support for Humanitarian Work.
The Zimbabwe Victims’ Support Fund is a church-led trust which sends all donations it receives directly to church humanitarian work on the ground in Zimbabwe - churches feeding hungry people despite the attempts of the regime to intimidate them into stopping this aid.
To find out more about this work and to donate contact larkellerton@aol.com