The Council of Zimbabwean Christian Leaders in the UK is calling on all people of faith to stand with the people of Zimbabwe.
27 June 2008
An opportunity for an outward expression of concern is being made available in the form of a prayer rally that will take place Saturday 28th June at the Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College in London from 2-5pm. The prayer coincides with the election weekend in Zimbabwe that was to see current President Robert Mugabe standing against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in an election runoff on Friday. Zimbabwe, a country of generally God-fearing, peace-loving and law-abiding people, has been driven further into political chaos following an escalation of grievous attacks on its citizens by gangs of pro-government militias. The orchestrated violence has left homes burnt, villages decimated, close to a hundred people dead and thousands injured and displaced. This violence against its supporters has led to the opposition pulling out of the election. The crisis in the country has reached grave proportions. Qobo Mayisa, the general Secretary of Council Zimbabwean Christian Leaders in the UK said: “Without divine intervention and a concerted international effort, there seems to be no hope for the country”.
In a similar initiative, Christians around the world are being mobilised to pray for Zimbabwe during this critical period.
"It is impossible to overstate the importance of this election, its fairness, its outcome and its aftermath", stated the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia in a letter to the WCC member churches.
Kobia continued: "Events in the coming weeks will challenge the people of Zimbabwe and the world to find means of overcoming violence in the exercise of democracy, and the results will influence the future of the nation and the region".
The global Anabaptist network, Mennonite World Conference, along with other church networks, are participating in the day or launching complementary initiatives.
Media enquiries: Qobo Mayisa. Secretary, CZCLUK, 07961048534.
The Council of Zimbabwean Christian Leaders in the UK (CZCLUK)
