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Standing
with the People of Zimbabwe
A
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”
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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