WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions
-28/06/05
The World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of some 350 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches, has strongly condemned the mass forced evictions that have left hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans homeless and made the dispossessed even more vulnerable.
The WCC is calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to stop the evictions immediately. It says that the rapid, ruthless and arbitrary manner in which Operation Murambatsvina is being conducted is unacceptable. It has left over 200,000 homeless.
ìThis operation is being carried out during the winter months and at a time when the rural areas are particularly unable to absorb those expelled from the urban areas because of the effects of drought,î says the WCC.
It goes on: ìThe government of Zimbabwe has embarked on this campaign while Zimbabwe is suffering from high unemployment, increasing poverty, acute food shortages and high levels of HIV and AIDS. It is difficult to the political rational why the government has embarked on this inhuman campaign. To carry out such acts of cruelty with impunity against her own people shows clearly that the government is losing the moral and ethical ground for leadership, healing and reconciliation.î
The World Council of Churches, which has a strong track record of supporting social justice across Southern Africa, says the Zimbabwean Government is not allowing churches and civil society groups to assist the evacuees adequately.
It says: ìThere is a moral, ethical and theological imperative to assist those who are suffering. The Gospel asks us to assist the poor, the vulnerable, the hungry, the homeless and the sick.î
The WCC affirms and supports the messages of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishopsí Conference (ZCBC), which underscore the dire nature of the situation.
The ZCC statement of 20 June notes, ìThe clean-up operation has resulted in untold suffering where families are left in the open air in this cold wintry weather. The misery that this operation has brought upon the affected people is unbearable. We are witnessing the total loss of livelihood for whole families for some people who were operating within the parameters of the by-laws.î
The ZCBC Pastoral Letter of 17 June points out that ìAny claim to justify this operation in view of a desired orderly end becomes totally groundless in view of the cruel and inhumane means that have been used. People have a right to shelter and that has been deliberately destroyed in this operation without much warning. While we all desire orderliness, alternative accommodation and sources of income should have been identified and provided before the demolitions and stoppage of informal trading. We condemn the gross injustice done to the poor.î
The WCC is calling on the government of Zimbabwe to suspend with immediate effect Operation Murambatsvina and to urgently address the pressing needs ñ shelter, food, health, etc – of the evacuees. Churches and relief organizations should also be given unrestricted access to the displaced persons, it says.
The statement goes on: ìThe Government should initiate dialogue with the opposition, churches and civil society groups and begin the process of addressing the real needs of suffering Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe is a divided society, and in this time of great upheaval and suffering it is crucial that peaceful ways be found to reconcile, rebuild and heal Zimbabwe.î
The WCC concludes: ìThe Government of Zimbabwe and the ZANU-PF need to exercise its newly achieved parliamentary majority in a way that can move the country from division towards healing. This means reaching out to the opposition and dismantle the restrictions on fundamental freedoms contained in such laws as the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Private Voluntary Organization Act. It should also withdraw the NGO bill from parliamentary consideration in its current form.î
WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions
-28/06/05
The World Council of Churches (WCC), a fellowship of some 350 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches, has strongly condemned the mass forced evictions that have left hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans homeless and made the dispossessed even more vulnerable.
The WCC is calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to stop the evictions immediately. It says that the rapid, ruthless and arbitrary manner in which Operation Murambatsvina is being conducted is unacceptable. It has left over 200,000 homeless.
‘This operation is being carried out during the winter months and at a time when the rural areas are particularly unable to absorb those expelled from the urban areas because of the effects of drought,’ says the WCC.
It goes on: ‘The government of Zimbabwe has embarked on this campaign while Zimbabwe is suffering from high unemployment, increasing poverty, acute food shortages and high levels of HIV and AIDS. It is difficult to the political rational why the government has embarked on this inhuman campaign. To carry out such acts of cruelty with impunity against her own people shows clearly that the government is losing the moral and ethical ground for leadership, healing and reconciliation.’
The World Council of Churches, which has a strong track record of supporting social justice across Southern Africa, says the Zimbabwean Government is not allowing churches and civil society groups to assist the evacuees adequately.
It says: ‘There is a moral, ethical and theological imperative to assist those who are suffering. The Gospel asks us to assist the poor, the vulnerable, the hungry, the homeless and the sick.’
The WCC affirms and supports the messages of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC), which underscore the dire nature of the situation.
The ZCC statement of 20 June notes, ‘The clean-up operation has resulted in untold suffering where families are left in the open air in this cold wintry weather. The misery that this operation has brought upon the affected people is unbearable. We are witnessing the total loss of livelihood for whole families for some people who were operating within the parameters of the by-laws.’
The ZCBC Pastoral Letter of 17 June points out that ‘Any claim to justify this operation in view of a desired orderly end becomes totally groundless in view of the cruel and inhumane means that have been used. People have a right to shelter and that has been deliberately destroyed in this operation without much warning. While we all desire orderliness, alternative accommodation and sources of income should have been identified and provided before the demolitions and stoppage of informal trading. We condemn the gross injustice done to the poor.’
The WCC is calling on the government of Zimbabwe to suspend with immediate effect Operation Murambatsvina and to urgently address the pressing needs – shelter, food, health, etc – of the evacuees. Churches and relief organizations should also be given unrestricted access to the displaced persons, it says.
The statement goes on: ‘The Government should initiate dialogue with the opposition, churches and civil society groups and begin the process of addressing the real needs of suffering Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe is a divided society, and in this time of great upheaval and suffering it is crucial that peaceful ways be found to reconcile, rebuild and heal Zimbabwe.’
The WCC concludes: ‘The Government of Zimbabwe and the ZANU-PF need to exercise its newly achieved parliamentary majority in a way that can move the country from division towards healing. This means reaching out to the opposition and dismantle the restrictions on fundamental freedoms contained in such laws as the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Private Voluntary Organization Act. It should also withdraw the NGO bill from parliamentary consideration in its current form.’