“God of the prophets, we pray for ourselves and our church that we might become prophets of justice and life to our world.  God of love, may we and our church become tools in your hands to help prepare the way for your reign in history.  Amen.” Archbishop Oscar Romero 8/6/79

Confronted with the approaching presidential elections in Zimbabwe, we, as Christians, are challenged by the prayer uttered by Archbishop Oscar Romero who felt the pain of his people and participated in God’s work of renewal before his untimely death on March 24, 1980.

March 29, 2008 marks a momentous occasion in the political history of Zimbabwe as the people go to the polls to elect leaders for the country.  Given the past history of Zimbabwe’s elections, there is great concern that the elections are carried out in a manner that fosters free and fair democratic elections.  As Christians this is an opportunity for us to pray with our brothers and sisters as they exercise their constitutional right to vote.

March 24, 2008

Dear Friends,

 “God of the prophets, we pray for ourselves and our church that we might become prophets of justice and life to our world.  God of love, may we and our church become tools in your hands to help prepare the way for your reign in history.  Amen.” Archbishop Oscar Romero 8/6/79

Confronted with the approaching presidential elections in Zimbabwe, we, as Christians, are challenged by the prayer uttered by Archbishop Oscar Romero who felt the pain of his people and participated in God’s work of renewal before his untimely death on March 24, 1980.

March 29, 2008 marks a momentous occasion in the political history of Zimbabwe as the people go to the polls to elect leaders for the country.  Given the past history of Zimbabwe’s elections, there is great concern that the elections are carried out in a manner that fosters free and fair democratic elections.  As Christians this is an opportunity for us to pray with our brothers and sisters as they exercise their constitutional right to vote.  

The elections are being held at a time when there is still much repression in the country and where there are still many individual stories of pain, despair and suffering among the people.  The rate of inflation reported in January was 100,000 percent, and food and fuel continue to be in short supply. With more than three in four Zimbabweans unemployed, few can afford such food and fuel.

The severe breakdown of economic and social conditions in Zimbabwe, a country that was once the breadbasket of Southern Africa, has caused an exodus of the people to surrounding countries. Many of the professionals and skilled laborers who have been compelled to seek sustenance elsewhere because they are unable to survive at home often find themselves in deplorable situations as neighboring countries are not able to absorb the large numbers that have left Zimbabwe. 

The country’s downward economic spiral began in 2000, when the population voted against a constitutional change that would grant unlimited executive power to President Robert Mugabe.  This rejection was shortly followed by the violent seizure of commercial farms.  Although land reform was unquestionably an issue that needed to be addressed, the methods used brought untold suffering to the people.  Botched land reform and droughts during the past few years continue to wreak havoc in the country. The result has been destruction of crops, livestock and human life.  Famine and starvation follow with deadly results.  In addition to this, infant and maternal mortality are high in Zimbabwe.  HIV/AIDS is claiming many lives.  Diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia are the order of the day.

Undoubtedly, one of the major contributing factors to the degradation and poverty in the country is corruption by the current leaders, many of whom have been in power since independence in 1980.  President Robert Mugabe, 84, has ruled the African country for nearly 28 years.

Given the division in his ruling party and the dire economic situation, Mugabe is expected to face a tough challenge to his reign.  Although elections in Zimbabwe have generally been characterized by pre-election violence, one can be thankful that the violence has remained at a minimum in most regions of the country.  However, there is still grave concern that the elections will not be free and fair.  It has been reported that 9 million paper ballots have been printed for an electorate of 5.7 million registered voters.  Independent news organizations have been banned and very few observers have been invited. 

Saturday, March 29, 2008 is a time for us to pray for a violence-free election in Zimbabwe.  It is a time for us to pray for justice and peace for all Zimbabweans so that their elected leaders may work hard for a country where economic, political and social institutions may serve the people rather than the other way around.  It is a time for us to pray with other Christians and those of other faith in Zimbabwe so that they may remain strong in their resolve to fight the injustices that cripple the people.  

Although this call for prayer is for our global partners and the entire Zimbabwe population, it should also be a reminder for each one of us here in America to pray for our own electoral process.  It is a time to recommit ourselves to the principles of love, peace and unity in a way which does not further divide, but rather unites us as a community of faith and as a country.

May we commit ourselves to prayer on Saturday, March 29, 2008.

“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called Children of God” (Matthew 5:9).   There can never be peace without justice or similarly, full justice without peace (Amos 5:24).   

In the Spirit of Ubuntu,
Sandra R. Gourdet
Executive, Africa Office