Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
16 December 2008
Maputo — In the strongest statement from the church yet, Africa's largest grouping of churches says the crisis in Zimbabwe is deadlocked because of the intransigence of President Robert Mugabe, and Christians should pray for an end to the "illegitimate" regime.
The 9th general assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in Maputo, Mozambique, set aside January 25, 2009 as a special 'Africa Day of Prayer and Fasting for Justice in Zimbabwe'.
The AACC assembly said the Mugabe regime was contrary to the will of Zimbabweans, as expressed in the presidential election of March 29, 2008.
The association also criticised southern African leaders, international mediators and the churches for failure 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. Meanwhile, violence continues to be committed against those who do not support Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, AACC said.
AACC urged 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."
The AU should also intensify pressure on President Mugabe to relinquish power, and facilitate genuine negotiations between all political parties and civil society organisations to chart a new political dispensation.
It also acknowledged that member churches have been slow to respond to the crisis in Zimbabwe and the suffering of the people, "in part because of our lack of unity".
The association said it will work with Zimbabweans towards a common vision for peace, justice and reconciliation in their nation and "pray for an end to illegitimate rule".
Advocacy initiatives to be spearheaded by AACC include visits to leaders of nations, regional structures 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.
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America has American interests, but what are Zimbabwe's interests ?:Killing off their people faster than slavery or the holocaust ever did ? Or is it reacting to America's positions with victimhood and envy ?
In any case America's number one interest is protecting her people first not protecting or propping up anachronistic dictators first as do most Africans seem to do.
[...Mugabe's answer was this: " I am very rich , my wealth is in my farms , goats and other products all of which are in ...]
This sounds like a retort - a pathetic attempt at showing off… [Read Full Text]
The AACC is damn right on murderer Mugabe!
The AACC ought to have gone further by excommunicating the illegitimate President and by chanelling funds to exiled groups of Zimbos in order to exert maximum pressure for genuine democratic political change.
Mugabe has become the greatest living criminal of the world. He caused over 4 millions of Zimbos to run away from their country. Now cholera, through his failure to ensure provision of clean water, is exterminating thousands of innocents.
Mugabe must go! He must be brought to justice, hands and legs chained!
So this so called scholar in Canada, obviously sponsored by the regime, why are you not in Zimbabwe then if you think Mugabe's madness is plausible, suffering with the rest of your country man! Its okay for you to rumble on about the colonial past, trying to justify this madness.
Invincible, dream on, nothing lasts forever, Who would have thought Banda and Kaunda would go. We should stand up for what is right, not sit and watch evil prevail for the sake of history!
If God has not yet taken Bush,Blair, Howard and other greater criminals what in holy sake makes them think God is so unjust as to take Mugabe who obviously is a lot better than the aforementioned.This mental slavery that has crippled Africa is the very bane of our progress.For your (African churches) collective realisation, the church as constituted is the greatest evil because it has supported some of the greatest evil to befall mankind 1.Slave Trade 2.Holocaust . 3. Other various scenarios of immoral acts. For that simple reason, don,t come close to us with your hypocritic posturings … [Read Full Text]
These church leaders should feel ashamed for taking the Lord's name in vain. Why should church people not follow God's plain teaching to stick to the truth? Who is holding up the unity government - Mugabe or Tsvangirayi? Who refused to abide by the SADC decision, by the advice of the elders, and by the majority decision of his fellow negotiating partners? Fortunately God is always on the side of the truth and will probably add more years to Mugabe, giving him more opportunity to repent and be saved.
Mugabe is hollier than thou, that is why God wil not take him away . Remember when British leaders in conjuction with the Bush administration collaborated to lynch Mugabe and his country by saying that all members of the regime were no longer allowed to travel to their countries ? Mugabe's answer was this: " I am very rich , my wealth is in my farms , goats and other products all of which are in Zimbabwe" quote . "I dont need your country because I have nothing to come for" Tell me any other African leader with such… [Read Full Text]