Standing with the People of Zimbabwe

April 4th, 2008

Statement of the Oblate JPIC Office on the Zimbabwe elections

The current political situation in Zimbabwe is of grave concern and if not peacefully resolved soon, the people of Zimbabwe will bear the burden of flawed elections. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation has made the lives of ordinary people extremely difficulty, with no real solution from the governing regime in sight.

A year ago, on April 5th, 2007, the Catholic Bishops of Zimbabwe issued a pastoral letter, God Hears The Cry Of The Oppressed in which they said:

“The people of Zimbabwe are suffering. More and more people are getting angry, even from among those who had seemed to be doing reasonably well under the circumstances. The reasons for the anger are many, among them, bad governance and corruption. A tiny minority of the people have become very rich overnight, while the majority is languishing in poverty, creating a huge gap between the rich and the poor. Our Country is in deep crisis. A crisis is an unstable situation of extreme danger and difficulty. Yet, it can also be turned into a moment of grace and of a new beginning, if those responsible for causing the crisis repent, heed the cry of the people and foster a change of heart and mind especially during the imminent Easter Season, so our Nation can rise to new life with the Risen Lord”[1]

The Oblate JPIC initiative, in a show of solidarity with Missionary Oblates working in Zimbabwe and the people they serve, call on the Mugabe regime and the elected opposition leadership to guard the future of the people of Zimbabwe by resolving immediately the current election standoff and embarking on a path to that respects human rights and peace.

The majority of Zimbabweans chose the path of self-determination in the 2008 elections and the people’s voice must be respected and honored with a legitimate government. International diplomacy and intervention from Southern African Development Countries (SADC) must ensure that any political process to resolve the standoff respects the people’s right to self determination, which was expressed by voters.

4th April 2008
Washington D.C.

More information:

• Solidarity Peace Trust
• Zimbabwe NGO Network

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[1] Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Zimbabwe Crisis, Holy Thursday April 5 2007.

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