Churches speak out on Zimbabwe

THE Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) has called on Government to use its peer country status with Zimbabwe to try and bring a lasting solution to what it calls “the Zimbabwe crisis”.

In a statement issued earlier this week, CCN General Secretary Philip Strydom expressed concern over recent events in that country, where police recently interrupted a prayer rally by a coalition of opposition, church and civic groups, and severely assaulted a number of organisers of the rally. Among those injured was Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who apparently fainted three times during an assault on him last Sunday.”We find the unrestrained use of violence and victimisation of citizens who stood up for their rights appalling.It is their constitutional right to voice out what they see as evil,” the CCN’s Strydom said.”After 27 years of independence, the government of Zimbabwe should have learned how to protect and respect the lives and dignity of its citizens, and how to deal with human rights issues,” he added.The church, he said, is of the opinion that the violent response by the Zimbabwean police is only deepening the crisis faced by the country.”More Zimbabweans will be traumatised and will even become displaced.Our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers have suffered enough,” Strydom said.He called on the government of President Robert Mugabe to engage the opposition in order to find mutually acceptable solutions to the troubles facing their country, and urged them to exercise restraint in the execution of their duties.The government, he said, has a responsibility to protect the dignity and lives of its citizens.He further called on the church in Zimbabwe to remain committed to the principles of justice and peace.Among those injured was Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who apparently fainted three times during an assault on him last Sunday.”We find the unrestrained use of violence and victimisation of citizens who stood up for their rights appalling.It is their constitutional right to voice out what they see as evil,” the CCN’s Strydom said.”After 27 years of independence, the government of Zimbabwe should have learned how to protect and respect the lives and dignity of its citizens, and how to deal with human rights issues,” he added.The church, he said, is of the opinion that the violent response by the Zimbabwean police is only deepening the crisis faced by the country.”More Zimbabweans will be traumatised and will even become displaced.Our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers have suffered enough,” Strydom said. He called on the government of President Robert Mugabe to engage the opposition in order to find mutually acceptable solutions to the troubles facing their country, and urged them to exercise restraint in the execution of their duties.The government, he said, has a responsibility to protect the dignity and lives of its citizens.He further called on the church in Zimbabwe to remain committed to the principles of justice and peace.