RESOURCES • PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES FOR PEACE & JUSTICE • AFRICA

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AACC Statement on Zimbabwe   Call to an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe

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ALL AFRICA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES 9TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2008 DECEMBER 7-12 | MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

 

AACC Statement on Zimbabwe

2008 DECEMBER 11

The Assembly of the All African Conference of Churches, meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, notes with serious concern that:

The will of the people of Zimbabwe, as expressed in the Presidential election of 29 March 2008, has not been respected and therefore the voice of the people concerning that nations future leadership has not been taken seriously;

SADC leaders, international mediators and the churches have failed to bring about an amicable solution to Zimbabwe’s political crisis;

President Mugabe is using power-sharing negotiations as a strategy for wasting time and exercising continued control over Zimbabwe;

Acts of violence continue to be committed against those who do not support ZANU-PF.

Therefore, the AACC Ninth Assembly calls on AACC member churches to:

Confess that we have been slow to respond to the crisis in Zimbabwe and the suffering of the Zimbabwean people, in part because of our lack of unity, and AFFIRM our desire to listen to our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe and to work with them towards a common vision for peace, justice and reconciliation in that nation.

Pray for an end to illegitimate rule in Zimbabwe, that justice and peace will prevail in Zimbabwe, that the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe will end and that the current conflicts will be reconciled. In particular, the AACC urges all churches on the continent and around the world to engage in a special Africa Day of Prayer and Fasting for Justice in Zimbabwe on 25 January 2009;

Take Action for justice and peace in Zimbabwe through measures appropriate to their national contexts. Such activities might include advocacy visits to leaders of nations, regional structures (SADC, etc) and the African Union; marches and demonstrations, particularly outside of Zimbabwean embassies and consulates; and collecting funds and material to provide humanitarian aid and address the cholera crisis.

The African Union and its member states to:

State clearly that the current Zimbabwean regime is illegitimate and to withdraw recognition of the Zimbabwean government;

Intensify pressure on President Mugabe to relinquish control of the Zimbabwean government, involving international bodies (such as the International Criminal Court) where appropriate;

Facilitate genuine negotiations between all political parties and civil society organisations to chart a new political dispensation for Zimbabwe, recognising that negotiation must never be allowed to replace legitimate democratic elections and that the collective will of all Zimbabwe’s people must be respected;

Recognise people fleeing the economic, political and humanitarian crises in Zimbabwe as refugees, to offer them protection and hospitality and to treat them with respect and dignity; and

Formulate a more thorough process of dealing with electoral disputes and removing leaders who refuse to accept the results of a legitimate and democratic election process.

The AACC Secretariat to:

Promote ongoing prophetic witness concerning the crisis in Zimbabwe, including the Africa Day of Prayer on 25 January 2009;

Call on the government of Zimbabwe to accord the freedom of worship to all its citizens and permit them access to their resources and property, especially the Diocese of Harare of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa;

Facilitate unity amongst church leaders and, in particular, to encourage churches to speak with one voice on the subject of Zimbabwe;

Encourage, co-ordinate and facilitate activities by member churches to respond to the crisis, to end oppression and suffering in Zimbabwe, and to express concretely our concern for and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, for example by providing support for people who have spoken out against illegitimate rule;

Commit to accompany, empower and capacitate church leaders to address the situation in Zimbabwe and to overcome fear and intimidation; and

Communicate the text of this resolution to its ecumenical partners, all political parties in Zimbabwe, and members of the African Union.

The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) is a fellowship of Christian churches in Africa which confess Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures. This fellowship accounts for over 120 million Christians across the continent. AACC is the largest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and Indigenous churches in Africa and is a member of the worldwide ecumenical network.

 

For further information, contact:

Ms Catherine Ouma

Press Officer, General Assembly

Tel: 258 829 630 789 Catherineaacc-ceta.org

 

Web link:

www.aacc-ceta.org/en/default2.asp?active_page_id=321&id=91

 

 

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AACC Statement on Zimbabwe   Call to an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe

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Call to an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe
on January 25, 2009

Pray for the church in Zimbabwe to take its appropriate role in responding

     to the needs of the people (ZCC included)

Pray for the formation of a government to ensure delivery of services

     to the people of Zimbabwe

Pray that the food supplies reach the dying people in remote Zimbabwe

     and that there be enough food for everybody.

Pray that medical supplies are made available to all areas of the country

     and save threatened life.

Pray that there be unity, tolerance, love and mutual respect
among all Zimbabweans

     regardless of political differences.

Pray that the Lord may have mercy on Zimbabwe and give enough rains
for a good harvest

     which will result in the restoration of human dignity, respect and recognition.

     Pray that Christians worldwide may be inspired by the Spirit to
remain in solidarity

     with the people of Zimbabwe until the end of crisis

Pray that the faith of Christians in Zimbabwe may be made stronger
by their suffering

     so that in hope they retain their joy and commitment to Christ.

Pray that the resources being extracted from Zimbabwe may benefit
the whole nation

     including the poor rather than individuals.

Pray that God may change the hearts of those who do not put the
interests of the people

     but think of themselves as more important than others.

Pray that the will of God may be done

The 9th General Assembly held in Maputo, Mozambique in December 2008 gave the African churches a strong mandate to continue their longstanding accompaniment of the Church and people of Zimbabwe. The Assembly declared January 25th an African Day of prayer for Zimbabwe. The call is to join our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers in prayer and in fasting, in words and in deeds, in contemplation and in action.

As AACC we therefore call on all our member churches, councils, fellowships and institutions; all friends in the ecumenical worldwide family; all our international partners and all people of good will to make January 25, 2009, an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe.

Trumpet call to Pray and Fast

Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet – Isaiah 58:1

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cord of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every
yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to
turn away from your flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like
the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will
go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you
will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say:
Here I am. – Isaiah 58:6-9

Calling for a Special Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe is first and foremost a call for all of us to come to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with a humble heart, in sincere love, spending time with him to get in tune with His sovereign plans and visions for his people and for the world. It’s about allowing Him to speak and to share His heart that bleeds for the suffering of our world. It’s about allowing Him to convince us to be part of his plan and be willing to act as instruments for his Kingdom—a kingdom of fellowship, peace, justice and reconciliation for anyone who respond to the invitation by Jesus: Come unto me!

Indeed it is a time of need for Zimbabwe

• The cholera epidemic continues to spread. 37,000 have contracted the disease and 1,800 have died (Jan 12). The health system has broken down.
• There is shortage of food.
• The schools have not been able to run properly due to the financial and social crisis.
• Political violence and intimidation continues.
• The power-sharing deal of September 15, 2008 has not been honoured and talks have stalled due to lack of sincerity and political will.
• Official inflation (July 08) was 231 million % but continues to rise by the day. The newly issued 50$bn bill only buys the owner a few loafs of bread.
• The numbers of political, social and economic refugees crossing the borders to the neighbouring countries are increasing continuously.

In all this the AACC acknowledges that the present crisis primarily is a crisis of legitimacy and governance. As stated by the 9th AACC General Assembly in Maputo on December 11, the present rule must be considered as illegitimate as it was an incomplete reflection of the will of the Zimbabwean people, given that the presidential run-off election in June 2008 was not free and fair and was marred by intimidation and political violence. The Zimbabwean people have also continuously been denied the peace, justice and socio-economic remedy they have for so long desired.

May the Lord grant Zimbabwe light to break forth like the dawn and healing to quickly appear. May the Lord bless us all as we Pray, Fast for the end to the political crisis and resumption of normalcy in the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.

Rev. Dr. Andre Karamaga

General Secretary

All Africa Conference of Churches

 

Web link:

www.aacc-ceta.org/en/default2.asp?active_page_id=321&id=92

 

 

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AACC Statement on Zimbabwe   Call to an African Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe

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