Some of the Pastors who attended the Christian vote campaign
The launch saw several church denominations such as Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Prayer Network of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Pastors’ Fellowship, Christian Leaders Forum, Ecumenical Church Leaders’ Forum, Zimbabwe Christian Alliance and Zimbabwe Devine Destiny (ZDD) come together to pledge and commit to campaign for peaceful 2018 elections.
In his solidarity speech, Heal Zimbabwe Programmes Manager, Cleto Manjova commended the move by the churches to call for peace ahead of the 2018 elections. He said “…The move by the church to launch a peace campaign against violent elections is commendable and as Heal Zimbabwe, we will partner the church in initiating campaigns for peaceful elections ahead of the 2018 elections..”.
Heal Zimbabwe appreciates the fact that the church has over the years been able to stand resolute and in unity with civil society organizations and has encouraged peace among citizens. This critical role by the church has strengthened local credibility and trust in the Church as a key stakeholder in healing and reconciliation processes. It is upon such trust and credibility that the Church, if recognized and given opportunity, could become key in the crucial domains of peace building and reconciliation efforts.
Heal Zimbabwe is right to applaud the Christian Churches for at
least doing something. But, frankly, what they have done so far is pathetic.
There is a clear Biblical duty on Christianity to fight for the
oppressed and those in poverty. Measured against that, all Churches have been
found badly wanting. Many individual Christians and Christian leaders have been
wrongly imprisoned, abused, tortured and even martyred in Zimbabwe. But where
is the solidarity of bishops, priests, pastors, ministers, and so-called “prophets”
and “apostles” fighting for them? Who hears of the leader of any denomination
taking up the Cross to fight for the weak?
90% of Zimbabweans are Christian. On its own, that makes the
Christian Movement potentially powerful enough to oust Mugabe and ZANU-PF. I am
not asking the Churches to take part in politics – that would be wrong. But
this is not a political battle, it is one against oppression and poverty.
But on the other side of this coin, certain “bishops” are stealing land and brutalising productive farming communities? – Zimbabweans just don’t have a clue.
You are absolutely right Frank, and they breach Christian tenets. But in fairness, this is not a Zimbabwean problem – all Christian Churches have problems with rogue leaders, egoists, those following personal ambitions and worse.
This makes it even more important for the Churches to stand up and fight for right, and to speak out against the rogues in their midst.