NEW GOVERNMENT HAS A LOT TO DO
We wish to remind the new Government that it is taking office at a very
special time and under very special circumstances in our history. The
special circumstances include a clearly defined and limited lifespan of
the Government during which it must present to the nation some specific
deliverables which include the following:
· facilitating the development and promulgation of a people-driven national constitution as a
 foundation for democratic governance;
. opening up space for people’s democratic participation, freedom of expression and personal freedoms;
· enacting legislation and mechanisms for people’s free participation
in the national elections . .. that  Â
 will mark the end of the life of
the current all-inclusive Government;
· re-vamping the national economy in order to create jobs, reduce
hunger, poverty, disease and  Â
 restoring public and social services,
particularly those related to health and education;
· Addressing all outstanding issues that include the release of persons detained on political grounds,fair  distribution of land and equitable distribution of relief and aid to those who need it.
STOP THE VIOLENCE
In addition, political party leaders should work to ensure that the
unity they have achieved at their level cascades down to their
supporters. The resurgence of politically-motivated acts of violence that the country is witnessing following the inauguration of the new
Government, whatever its cause, is morally wrong, unacceptable and
should be condemned and stopped.
COUNTRY NEEDS RECONCILIATION AND HEALING
The country needs reconciliation and healing. The Church in Zimbabwe
has made plans to partner with other stakeholders and work towards
national reconciliation and the healing of persons and communities at
all levels as an important and essential first step into our new
dispensation. This will be a process to address past hurts and permit a
climate for reconstruction.
For national reconciliation and healing to take place, however, we need
to break the culture of violence that has come to characterize how we
resolve conflicts in our communities. We urge Church leaders, political
leaders and opinion leaders to go back to communities and address
national (not political party) rallies to promote the message of unity,
to repeat again and again that timeless message from Scripture: "Behold
how good and pleasant it is when brethren live together in unity."
MEDIA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY
The media should join other sectors in promoting unity in our new
dispensation by dropping hate language and biased reporting,
encouraging diversity and free flow of opinions and vigilantly and
constructively probing issues of national importance.
TIME FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK FORWARD
We believe this is the moment in our history when we must all be
forward-looking and doing all we can from our various and diverse
vantage points to restore our nation.
May the Almighty God guide and bless ZimbabweWe remain God’s humble servants
Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC)
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ)
Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC)
Post published in: News