Lusaka — Angolan refugee churchmen living in Zambian camps have recommended the need to bring the awareness of the Angolans and all Christians in the region on the existence of "a fragmented church".

"We strongly recommend the total breaking of the walls of division leading to one united church in Angola. We furthermore recommend that the church in the region be involved in this initiative," the said.

"As refugees, we feel rootless, abandoned, forgotten and have become a group of people without human dignity. It is in this vein that we strongly ask for peace in Angola because we do not have an answer as to why the war is continuing," they said.

In a statement released last week and signed by 8 representatives from various churches, they noted that some Angolans had been refugees for over 34 years, whilst several ministers have been living among the displaced people since 1976.

"As refugees, we feel rootless, abandoned, forgotten and have become a group of people without human dignity. It is in this vein that we strongly ask for peace in Angola because we do not have an answer as to why the war is continuing," they said.

They further urged political parties in the war-torn South-West African country to exercise tolerance and stop intimidating Angolans praying and working for peace. Leaders of the church in the diaspora should be included in all efforts for peace in Angola, they added.

The Regional Working Group on Support to Angolan Refugees held its first meeting in November 2000 when they visited Angolan refugees in western Zambia at the invitation of the Jesuit Refugee Service.

Their report was presented by Mr. Onesimus Nekondo, group convenor, from Namibia. Other members of the group are Reverend Fredrick Maliseha of South Africa, Ms Christina Northey of Zambia, Ms Eunice Inacio of Angola, Mr. Rui Kahilu of Angola and Ms Tendai Chikuku-Nyahoda of EDICISA.

The mandate of this group is to oversee the care of refugees from Angola, and to facilitate cross-border collaboration for their inclusion in the peace process and for their repatriation and reintegration into Angolan society.

The group later recommended that a viable ecumenical identity should be engendered among all Christian denominations among Angolans in refuge, and between themselves and the host congregations in the countries where refugees find themselves.

They stressed that the church at all levels must take its prophetic role seriously and harness all its energies in order to bring the two major warring factions in Angola to be at peace with each other.

The church at regional level should follow up the pastors' request for "building unity between urban, rural and refugee congregations should not only be an end to be achieved but also a method of our work with Angola," they said.

The church at regional level should follow up the pastors' request for "building unity between urban, rural and refugee congregations should not only be an end to be achieved but also a method of our work with Angola," they said.