These are dark days for democracy in Zimbabwe.
When a public prayer meeting is banned by police on the grounds that it’s subversive, you know something has gone badly awry.
The security forces took exception to Christians praying about the post-election political impasse and banned a meeting at the Town Hall in Bulawayo.
But the church in Zimbabwe, which Tearfund works closely with in the running of relief and development programmes, has resolved not to be intimidated into inaction.
They switched the prayer meeting to a venue where official permission wasn’t needed, illustrating the determination and resilience of these Christian leaders.
One pastor summed up the mood by quoting Galatians 6:9: `Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’
War veterans
Violence and intimidation have been going on since the elections at the end of March and show no sign of tailing off.
Overwhelming evidence would suggest that they are part of a calculated campaign by President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party – carried out by militias such as the infamous war veterans.
A staff member of one Tearfund partner, which cannot be named for security reasons, said, `Sadly the political scene is deteriorating with many reports from staff and others of beatings and murders taking place as retribution against the Movement for Democratic Change, and presumably to instil fear in the electorate so that they can be persuaded to vote for the ruling party.’
The story of a police officer who was demoted for arresting Zanu-PF suspects accused of beatings and rapes illustrates the state’s disregard for justice in Zimbabwe.
- Please pray for international mediation and pressure, particularly from the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, to end the violence and find a political solution.
- Pray that church prayer meetings will go ahead peacefully and that intimidation of leaders will not deter them from giving true information about the current crisis and condemning the violence that has been unleashed.
- Religious leaders throughout the country have resolved to visit torture camps to talk to the soldiers, militia and Zanu-PF officials manning them to try and convince them to reject violence. Pray for their protection and for God to work in the hearts of the perpetrators.
- There are reports of retaliation against the Zanu-PF thuggery. This could escalate into widespread chaos and provide Robert Mugabe with the pretext for more draconian military action.
- Pray that people would not take revenge and that the church would take a lead in responding with Christ’s love.
- There are reports that food is being even more closely controlled by Zanu-PF to persuade people in the rural areas to vote the 'right way'.
- Many agencies are not able to operate as those they meet are then targeted with violence. Pray that the church will be able to find ways to help those in need as they become ever more desperate.