THE Zimbabwe Christian Initiative for Peace, an initiative which groups representatives of various church organisations in Zimbabwe, yesterday called for peace in the period before, during and after the presidential election.

Addressing journalists and Commonwealth observers, the chairman of the Initiative, Rev Alex Chisango urged all Zimbabweans to be agents of peace and declare the period a national peace era.

"Let all political parties and party members practice peaceful propagation of their opinions, and genuine dialogue, respect one another's right to hold different opinions and resolve differences peacefully," said Rev Chisango.

He said the goal of the initiative is to lay a foundation of peace that looks beyond the presidential poll and to envision peace in the long term.

"We encourage all citizens to observe peace in their households by educating their family members and then extending that call to church groups who in turn carry the message to commerce, industry, Government and civic society," he said.

Various stakeholders in civic society, commerce and industry, the church, political leaders including President Mugabe, have all recognised the need for a non-partisan, non-confrontational, non-inflammatory church-facilitated body to spearhead and disseminate a message of peace for all time.

Messages

Rev Chisango said the organisation will insert creative and distinctive peace messages in leading newspapers and people will be wearing white peace ribbons as a symbol of commitment and peace.

The peace concept is based on an endorsement by stakeholders from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, heads of Christian Denominations, Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa, Zimbabwe Interdenomina-tional Network and World Vision Zimbabwe.