Zimbabwe Crisis

I am passing on what pastor colleague James Berger has shared with me and others. He got an e-mail--well, read on (for a brief bio of Berger, see my April 3, 2008 post, "Dith Pran Remembered"), the rest of this post is his:

The letters are tacked together in an e-mail, and passed along the international network. My copy came from a church member born in South Africa, and married to a woman from Zimbabwe. He asked me to read them and forward them to as many people as possible, and to any one who had the power to help. They tell the stories of the people of Zimbabwe who voted against the dictatorial president Robert Mugabe. Mugabe and the ZANU-PF party lost the parliamentary election on March 29. In response, he has persecuted the opposition party members. On April 25 the results of a recount confirmed his party’s defeat. In response the army fanned out to arrest the opposition party (MDC) members. You can read the story from The NY Times here.

Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, was the breadbasket of Africa. Mugabe, now 84, has run the country for 28 years, during which time it has slid into poverty and squalor. The letters I received spoke of truckloads of young, armed men descending on settlements, high on drugs and alcohol and carrying AK-47s. The terror in the emails is palpable.

I hesitate to use the name of the writers of the letters for fear it could cause his or her arrest. The first letter says:

“I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.

”To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone is in denial).

“If you don't want me to tell you these things-how bad it is-then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say — oh well, that's what happens in Africa. This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight — or how can we be rescued? It's a reality!”

The second letter ends:
“The reaction of our neighbors to the terror and tragedy unraveling Zimbabwe is beyond all under standing. South African president Thabo Mbeki emerged from an hour long meeting with Mr Mugabe saying: ‘There is no crisis in Zimbabwe.’ Fourteen African heads of state met for 12 hours in Zambia and emerged saying: ‘Election results must be released expeditiously.’ Of course we don't know what went on behind closed doors but it seems like quiet diplomacy has again been the convenient smoke screen for Africa’s Big Men. It is no comfort whatsoever to mums who can’t find enough food for our families. It is no comfort to frightened men whispering on crackly telephone lines about men with guns on an opposition witch hunt. It is no comfort to farmers trying to grow food but faced with drugged, drunken youths who want what they've got.

“Zimbabweans voted for change a fortnight ago, the MDC announced that it had been achieved but day by day that change is being painfully, brutally stripped away. Until next week, love N.”

Tomorrow’s lectionary text from I Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.” These letters challenge us to find the way to live that promise from scripture, and make a difference in the world. Take the time to email your Representative and your Senators. Respond with your suggestions for how the Church can facilitate the peace and reconciliation of nations.

--Rev. Dr. James R. Berger, Fort Myers, Florida