Religious coalition calls for tolerance and peace on senate elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
23 November 2005

A grouping of several churches called Christians Together for Justice and Peace released a statement expressing deep concern at the extent of the polarisation among Zimbabweans concerning the Senate Elections. They say this issue is not only dividing the nation into antagonistic camps, for and against participation, but has also created unprecedented confusion in the minds of many ordinary citizens. The Christians say the senate is of massive irrelevance right now when people’s one over-riding desire is simply to cleanse the nation of corrupt rule and to make a new start under a leadership of real integrity.

Speaking from Bulawayo, the Reverend Graham Shaw said the senate was an imposition on the people pushed through parliament without any proper consultation or debate. He believes it will not feed any hungry families or provide shelter for the homeless nor medical relief for one single HIV sufferer. The Christians for Justice and Peace urge Zimbabweans to tolerate each other’s different views. Their statement acknowledges those who have given some good, strategic reasons for participating in the senate. It says they respect their integrity and their right to make their own judgment in a complex, almost no-win situation. But it criticises violence among MDC supporters and the leadership for tolerating it.

Reverend Shaw said we need to look beyond November 26 and deal with the unresolved problems of poverty, homelessness, unemployment and famine. He then summarised the recommendations made by Christians Together for Justice and Peace, which they say must be tackled urgently if a humanitarian disaster of catastrophic proportions is to be avoided.

First they urge the United Nations Secretary General to undertake an urgent assessment of the needs of Zimbabweans for food, shelter and other humanitarian relief. Secondly, they give their full support to the urgent request made by a number of NGOs, human rights and other civic groups, that the African Union should call publicly for the implementation of the recommendations of the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. And lastly they urge the Church to demand that this regime removes all obstacles in the way of the Church and other relief agencies that are attempting to import and distribute essential food supplies to help displaced families and other hungry Zimbabweans.