Prayer urged for Zimbabwe
It has been more than a month since the presidential election in Zimbabwe, and still there is no resolution or hope for change within sight. In an email message dated May 14, Jake Shenk, BICWM regional administrator for Southern Africa, describes a continuing downward spiral of already very difficult conditions in Zimbabwe. He writes:
The political situation has been rather tense since the announcement of the 29th March election results. Privately, many people still believe that the current president lost the elections and that the opposition won a definite majority. However, the election commission has announced that the opposition candidate did not receive the required 50 percent needed to become the new president. It has just been announced that the run-off will now take place on the 31st of July.
In the hope of frightening people into either not voting or voting for the current president, certain soldiers, police, and youth militia have gone into areas which previously were strongholds of the ruling party. In the recent elections these areas voted for the opposition. Torture camps were set up and many people severely beaten and some killed. Many people's possessions have been burned, including their homes, livestock, etc. It is difficult to get the exact statistics, but the number of deaths could be somewhere between 40 and 50. Beatings would run into the thousands.
Doctors and civil rights groups have reported many cases of severe bruising, injuries, and broken bones. The worst part of this activity has taken place in the Mashonaland area. One of our Brethren in Christ pastors and some church members there were beaten. Unfortunately, medication is limited and doctors find treating the injured very difficult.
Just this morning, we received word that a man who was a former employee of Matopo Book Centre was very severely beaten. I was shown the doctor's report and it was not very pretty. We are hearing many people express the feeling that the beatings are only making them more determined to vote against the ruling party in the run-off. They feel that this will get rid of the current government once and for all.
Up to this point the situation here in Bulawayo has been fairly quiet. We have not felt threatened and continue to carry out our duties normally.
Economically the situation in Zimbabwe is really chaotic. Inflation now is estimated to be about 300,000 percent. Most basic commodities are not available in stores. They are primarily available on the black market where the price is exorbitant. It is not unusual to see prices double in a week or less. Government tends to want to distribute any food relief which is available. This has created a situation in which churches and other non-governmental organizations find it difficult to operate and distribute drought relief. This has resulted in many people going hungry and being malnourished.
During the last couple days there have been a few happenings which begin to bring a ray of hope. South Africa sent a number of its generals to visit some of the areas worst affected. Their report was very honest and damaging to the current government. In addition, a number of ambassadors, including the American ambassador, traveled to these areas, at great personal risk. They also reported that the violence which is taking place is extremely severe and widespread. We believe that their reports will help to bring regional and international pressure for the government to cease these terrible activities.
Many people are praying and have come to the point of saying that only God can bring order out of this chaos.
NOTE OF INTEREST: An offering will be received for the Zimbabwe BIC Church on Sunday evening (June 29) of General Conference. Churches are encouraged to sponsor a special offering for Zimbabwe in advance of the conference and to send the funds that are collected along to Toronto with their delegates.
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