Tearfund welcomes the EU decision to renew the ‘restricted measures’ against President Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe. But whilst their renewal sends a message of continuing disapproval from the international community, the poor and marginalised have never been so desperate. Human rights abuses are spiralling and leaving many without a sense of hope.
The measures that have been in place since 2002 are aimed to curb travel and freeze assets of over 150 government officials. They also include arms restrictions.
It is estimated that over 80% of Zimbabwe’s 12 million people are now living in poverty, with unemployment rates now exceeding 80%. In January inflation rose to around 1600% with the cost of basic goods out of reach for many people. Parents can no longer afford to send children to school and their sense of despair grows amidst strikes from public servants whose bus fares exceed their wages. Children who desperately need food and medical care are instead going hungry and dying in silence. In many parts of the country children are growing weaker and have lost hope altogether.
“I have never seen such a depressing outlook,” says a Tearfund aid worker who has recently returned from Zimbabwe. “The people I have met just want the basic elements of life. They don’t have enough food and medicine and the structures in society are unable to provide them with essential care. They are suffering from every side, losing everything - and in many cases they have even lost hope.” Children are suffering from malnutrition, HIV - and AIDS related conditions, among other lingering illnesses, fear and isolation. Children often head up families in villages where orphans outnumber the adult population and the number of street children has risen rapidly.
UK relief and development agency, Tearfund, has supported church involvement in development and social justice in Zimbabwe for over 25 years and has witnessed the deterioration of the basic services that are no longer available to so many people throughout the country.
Many of Zimbabwe’s Christian leaders are working to help those who are suffering. They are standing together to advocate for change and are mobilising their churches to act.
The Zimbabwean Christian Alliance (ZCA) is a network of Christian leaders working to help the marginalised. Their focus of support is on those in remote rural areas who they reach through church and community networks.
”The thing with us is that we are at the grass roots level. We know what is happening and are doing our best to help,” says Pastor Ray Motsi, a spokesperson for the ZCA. He knows that the church’s fight for justice has not been an easy one. He was one of seven church leaders - members of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, recently arrested when armed riot police broke up a dedication service in Kadoma, south west of Harare. Another pastor was detained when he visited the prison to provide soap for those in custody.
“NGOs must be allowed to continue the work they are doing to help the poor and marginalised, “ adds the aid worker. “We must not stand by and watch while ordinary people are robbed of their basic rights to life, by the actions of a dysfunctional government.”
Whilst Tearfund welcomes the renewal of restricted measures against Zimbabwe’s regime, it’s clear that far-reaching action must be taken on behalf of those suffering, to bring change and justice for the multitudes left in such desperate poverty.