Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Zimbabwe: Prayers for transparency, solidarity

NewsNotes, July-August 2008  

            From election day on March 29 through the sham run-off presidential “elections” on June 27, the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorated greatly. The mix of a collapsed economy and extreme political repression by the ZANU-PF government of Robert Mugabe against anyone connected with or supportive of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been lethal.

              As the run-off “elections” neared, many groups providing humanitarian aid were denied access to economically or physically battered communities. Finally, MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, who had defeated Mugabe in March elections, withdrew from the run-off in an effort to spare his supporters additional trauma.

            African Union (AU) leaders who met immediately after June 27 encouraged Mugabe to form a government of national unity with Tsvangirai, but the final summit statement did not take a position on the legitimacy of the run-off elections or assign blame for the violence and destruction. According to Voice of America, however, Botswana argued that Zimbabwe and Mugabe should be barred from membership in the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC); Senegal and Uganda favored strong action against Mugabe; and the leaders of Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone spoke clearly about the election’s lack of legitimacy.

            The AU declaration encouraged Mugabe and Tsvangirai to “initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and the reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people;” recommended that SADC mediation efforts be continued and that SADC “establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution;” and appealed to states and all parties concerned to “refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue.”

            The MDC responded, “Tuesday’s resolution by AU leaders did not adequately deal with the ongoing violence in Zimbabwe, which includes reports of reprisal attacks on those who failed to vote for Mr Mugabe on Friday … [and] did not acknowledge the illegitimacy of the 27 June run-off vote….The resolution endorses the concept of a government of national unity without acknowledging that the MDC, as the winner of the last credible election on 29 March, should be recognized as the legitimate government of Zimbabwe … . [T]he basis of talks should be the first-round election.” (BBC)

            Nine MDC supporters have been murdered, and hundreds more have been beaten and forced to leave home since June 27.

            The MDC rejected the decision of other African countries to keep South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki as sole mediator and refused to participate in talks about forming a governing accord until an additional mediator is appointed and ZANU-PF ends its campaign of violence. (Associated Press)

            The European Union (EU) backed AU efforts to push for the creation of a government of national unity. EU spokesman John Clancy said, “Morgan Tsvangirai must be part of any transitional government and if we reflect the first round of the election where he won a majority of the vote with 47 percent then its clear that he should be a leading member of that government as its potential prime minister or the head of government to ensure that certain reforms can take place.” (VOA)

            British Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed the EU position, and added that the UK would press for tough action on Zimbabwe at the Security Council and at the G8 meeting in Japan.

            President Bush instructed his administration to develop a new list of sanctions to be imposed on the government of Zimbabwe in the light of what the U.S. termed “sham elections.” The U.S. will be seeking joint action with the UN, SADC and the AU. 

            The words written several weeks ago by leaders of the main Christian denominations in Zimbabwe, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, urging the SADC, the AU and the UN to work towards arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe have thus far not borne fruit. The religious leaders warned the world that if nothing is done to help Zimbabwe, “we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hot spots in Africa and elsewhere.”  

Faith in action:  

Continue to pray for the people of Zimbabwe. Pay attention to what happens there in the coming weeks and months. Consider making a contribution of whatever size to the Zimbabwe Solidarity Fund, which is a response to direct requests from civil society in Zimbabwe for support in the ongoing struggle for democracy, human rights and social justice. Go here for more information on Zimbabwe.