“Reject all forms of violence and coercion: Violence and coercion only serve to discredit our elections. Any use of force takes away the credibility and integrity of the elections. People must be able to make free choices according to their own judgement,” the letter reads in part.
The Bishops specifically appeal to the government of President Robert Mugabe to ensure that citizens enjoy their political rights and freedom of expression.
Throughout the letter, the Bishops constantly urge political parties, the government and individuals to strictly adhere to and respect the Constitution of Zimbabwe which was overwhelming approved by a referendum vote of May 2013.
On Friday this week, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was reported by local media to have embarked on nationwide public rallies aimed at rousing support for the ruling ZANU-PF in the 2018 elections. The ZANU-PF party wants incumbent President, Mugabe 93, as its sole presidential candidate.
The Bishops’ pastoral letter is an attempt to prepare and steer the nation away from a repeat of the 2008 political and electoral crisis. Zimbabwe’s 2008 pre and post-election landscape was very volatile and characterised by widescale violence most of which was blamed on state institutions and agents.
As a way out of the 2008 crisis, the ZANU-PF and the two MDC political parties settled for a power-sharing Government of National Union (GNU) brokered by the then South African President, Thabo Mbeki in 2009.
With this pastoral letter, the Catholic Bishops want Zimbabweans to respect the Constitution and behave peacefully before, during and after the 2018 general elections.
“As we prepare for 2018, let us respect each other and even mirror in our words and actions the love of God, Father of us all.” The Bishops add, “We now have our own Constitution, a great achievement, and it says in one place, ‘The State and every person, including the juristic persons, and every institution and agency of government at every level, must promote national unity, peace and stability,’” the Bishops say.
All the Bishops signed the pastoral letter which was released Sunday by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC).
(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Radio Vatican)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
Post published in: Featured
Zimbabwe is standing right on the edge of the abyss the tragic human suffering going on because of decades of bad governance cannot be allowed to go on. Zimbabwe cannot afford another rigged election and calling for peaceful elections is wilfully inadequate in stopping Mugabe rigging elections.
Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is a man-made problem and for 37 years we have all done nothing to stop the corrupt and tyrannical regime of President Mugabe destroy the nation.
“More inhumanity to man has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes,” said Samuel von Pufendorf in 1673.
The truth of his insight is haunting Zimbabwe today; there is no denying that Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is man-made. And there is no denying that it is not just President Mugabe and his corrupt and murderous thugs who are responsible for our misery; they played the lead roles and we played our supporting roles. For far too long many of us have seen nothing, heard nothing, said nothing and did nothing whilst the tyrant destroyed the economy, destroyed human lives and crashed the nation’s very soul!
The church is the guardian of man’s soul and thus the church leaders should be playing the leading role in the defence of the nation’s soul. The moral decay in the churches in Zimbabwe today, especially in all these new evangelical groups, is deeply regrettable.
I agree the Catholic Bishops’ call for peaceful elections next year will do nothing to ensure free, fair and credible elections; they should know that! Zimbabwe cannot afford another rigged election; the Bishops must know that too!
If there is ever a time for men and women of good will to step out of their comfort zones and show their humanity for man, that time is here and now for Zimbabwe.