19-01-2010
A locally supported partnership of churches and individuals in Scotland
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
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UPCSA statement on Zimbabwe
From the Church of Scotland's World Mission Council: update 30/03/2007.
On Thursday last week, the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (UCPSA) issued the following statement signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly -the Rt. Rev. William Pool, the Former Moderator of the General Assembly - Rev Dr Jerry Pillay and the General Secretary - Rev Vuyani Vellem:
“The recent, ugly spectacle of violence in Zimbabwe, perpetrated against Zimbabwean citizens by the Government led by President Robert Mugabe must be vehemently condemned. Our deep-seated Christian convictions and the faith we profess in Our Lord Jesus Christ make it no longer possible for us to keep silent at this kind of violent misuse of power by the state against its own citizens.
We believe that it is the responsibility of the Zimbabwean government to create a life giving environment for its citizens where freedom of speech and expression will flourish regardless of faith, political persuasion and creed. In this regard we condemn violence from all sides in the current situation in Zimbabwe.
We strongly urge the Zimbabwean government to call upon a multi-party dialogue to strive for a peaceful solution to the protracted, life threatening problems of the Country. By the same token, we urge our South African government to be vigorously and conspicuously proactive in making a multi party dialogue in Zimbabwe an urgent goal in this state of decay in Zimbabwe.
As a transnational Church, we share the pain and suffering of our community in Zimbabwe and we can no longer endure seeing the pain and violence that dismembers our body.
We call upon all members of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa to pray for our members and the people in Zimbabwe in this time of pain.”
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