World Council of Churches urges international action on Zimbabwe

(Photo: Copyright ROHR Zimbabwe, Inc. All rights reserved)

The World Council of Churches and the World Student Christian Federation have called on the UN, the South African Development Community, and the African Union to increase their efforts “to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe".

A joint letter from the two ecumenical organizations states that in extreme situations the international community has the duty to intervene in the internal affairs of a state in the interests and safety of the people, a principle known as "responsibility to protect".

“It is now with profound concern that we call on you to increase your efforts to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. As church leaders representing more than 550 million Christians around the world, including members of many churches in Zimbabwe, we request that you direct urgent attention to the humanitarian needs of the people of Zimbabwe, their freedom to exercise religion, the destabilization of the political situation and the need to end human rights abuses .”

The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) has echoed the statement calling the situation in Zimbabwe “unacceptable”. “The international community must address the situation urgently to save lives”, said Randy Naylor, the General Secretary, WACC.

WACC is concerned about the role the mass media have played in Zimbabwe during the past few years and in the escalating conflict. WACC foresees the need for media reform in post-conflict Zimbabwe and is currently looking at ways of partnering with different organisations inside and outside the country that could lead to democratisation of the media. Read more...