The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops have made a strong call for action to Zimbabweans to commit to building true peace, break the unjust fetters and elect good accountable leaders in the forthcoming general elections.
The call made to Catholics and the people of Zimbabwe in 2023’s Lenten pastoral letter, is a show of sign and voice made in collegiality.
Titled, Breaking the Unjust fetters, the pastoral letter addresses the great need to elect good accountable leaders, the need for individual repentance, a commitment to building true peace, an effective and transparent use of natural resources and a renewed condemnation of political violence.
Repentance and Peace building
In the letter, the country’s bishops called for the people of God, to ‘pray to Christ the Prince of peace, that he gives us true peace.’
“As we do so let us commit ourselves to the building of peace and fast from the evils of violence. We note that, “The evils of violence whether delivered through word, system, institution or deed cannot lead to a truly better world. War and violence impose an unjust peace.”
“How many more people have to be maimed and how many have to be killed before we can put a stop to all this? Surely we can allow compassion for each other to breathe. We can tolerate political differences and we can learn from each other what to add to our own political vision and how to market it without the shedding of blood. Violence should never be a tool employed in politics.”
The bishops said ‘there is no repentance that does not touch the core of our being’ and that “whatever good we desire for our country must begin with us as individuals.”
They went on to call the people to reflect on the past, present and the future of the country and the be decide where we want to go as individuals and as a society.
General elections and choosing good leaders
As the country prepares for a general election, the bishops have asked the people to be clear about what they want and to pray for it during this lent.
“…It is imperative that there is clarity about what we want from these elections, hence the need for the 40 days of fasting and prayer.”
In the hope of offering guidance, light and hope in these difficult times, the bishops urged the people to vote for a leader with a ‘clear plan’ for economic prosperity, health care, and is decisive on dealing with corruption.
“We go to this important General Election to elect a leader that has a clear plan about how to put families first by creating good employment so as to lower the increased number of our poor people living in desperate situations of outright deprivation,” said the letter.
“If important elections such as these become nothing but a power game, seeking to attain or retain power and nothing else to offer beyond this, then as a nation, we are lost and we are doomed.”
The Bishops lamented that Zimbabweans are “witnesses and worse, victims of abject poverty and destitution” and expressed little hope for a ‘way out of this desperation.’
Watchman, how much longer the night”? (Is 21:11)
Democracy and development
“Many countries in Africa have witnessed the shrinking of the democratic space through the increased use of force to silence dissenting voices.”
As with Isiah’s call to the undo thongs of yoke, the bishops have also raised concern over “people incarcerated for expressing their views.”
The Bishops statement also dismissed exclusive liberation war rhetoric, saying that “no doubt the principal goal of the war of liberation was not only political emancipation but economic inclusivity, so as to ensure bread on every table and equal opportunities for all.”
In a similar fashion, the Lenten message emphasises the need to shun “reckless utterances of the political leadership in its quest for power.
Zimbabwe possess various valuable natural resources, but there is little to show for it, and the bishops have also raised concerns on the care for the environment.
“We are a country with so many resources yet the question on everyone’s lips is: Where are these resources going?”
“One wonders whether with all the destruction done to the environment by the mining companies, there will be an environment to talk about in a few years to come!”
Prayer during lent
The letter ended with a prayer that admonishes egoism and promotes working for the common good, ‘building an inclusive society where each one’s needs are met,’ and growth in the mind of Christ.
By Kudakwashe Matambo
English