July 2, 2008

CHICAGO – In anticipation of the June 27 runoff election in which Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was re-elected, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council called for "urgent establishment of a peace building process in the country, incorporating all national actors, regional organizations and the international community." The council met June 25-30 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The council asked all LWF members to pray July 6 for peace and justice for all Zimbabweans. "For its part, the (LWF) stands ready to support the people of Zimbabwe in rebuilding their nation, and in restoring their betrayed hopes of a life in dignity and justice."

The LWF is a global communion of 141 churches in 79 countries, representing 68.3 million of the world's Lutherans. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is an LWF member. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, is the president of the LWF and the chair of the LWF Council.

The runoff election, according to Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission, resulted in about 2.2 million votes for Mugabe, to opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's 233,000. The March 29 general election resulted in a majority of votes for Tsvangirai, but not enough to secure the position, prompting the runoff.

"The world must not stand idly by, as it did during the genocide in Rwanda, and watch the unfolding of a human catastrophe," the council's statement read. The council also stated that the results of the election should not be recognized by the global community and that the violence surrounding the runoff was "systematic, organized, politically motivated intimidation."

"We note that the perpetrators of that intimidation and violence have not hesitated to target church leaders and clergy, as well as opposition party leaders and members, media representatives, academics, specific groups within Zimbabwean society and anyone thought to have voted for the opposition in the March 29 elections," the council's statement read. The council said the March 29 general election "already demonstrated that this government has lost the trust and support of Zimbabweans."

The council called on the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to "take a more active role in promoting human security in Zimbabwe and encouraging a political transition back to the democracy that Zimbabweans have a right to expect."

Near the end of its June meeting, the LWF Council urged Hanson to write a pastoral letter to church leaders in Zimbabwe, expressing hope and trust that God cares for and will save the suffering people of Zimbabwe. The Rev. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary, was asked by the council to write letters to Jakaya M. Kikwete, president of the United Republic of Tanzania and African Union chairperson; African government heads; and the ecumenical community in Africa, encouraging regional action to protect Zimbabweans and promote a return to genuine democracy.

Full text of the statement is at http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2230.EN.html, on the Web.

ELCA News Service
Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News Service.