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On the Ground in Zimbabwe: 'Come With the Eyes of Faith'
by Larry Miller, Executive Secretary

I was in Zimbabwe as the fast-track land redistribution program imposed by the government there was coming to a confrontational climax. During that extended visit, colleagues and I consulted widely with civic and religious leaders.

These people, representing a diversity of persuasions and viewpoints, spoke with clear and united voices on the subject of convening an international Christian gathering in Bulawayo one year from now. Come, they said. Come and see. See our situation with the eyes of faith. Then stand in solidarity with us.

“The more the outside church comes to Zimbabwe, the better,” insisted Goodwill Shana, vice president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and chair of the Evangelical Association for Justice and Peace in southern Africa. “The world is isolating us in order to bring change. But the more eyes we have in Zimbabwe, the better it is for us.”

Christian leaders in the country and the region are themselves not blind to the realities. “We are aware,” said the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in a public statement issued earlier this year, “of many incidents of violence and intimidation both before and during the elections and of the uneven playing field as factors that marred the conduct of the election and preclude us from confirming it as free and fair.”

Another important Christian group, based in the southern Africa region and reporting on a pastoral visit to Zimbabwe, writes: “It is crucial for Zimbabwe to address land distribution as a matter of the greatest urgency. However, the present process for doing this is absolutely destructive both to those involved and to the land itself.” White people represent only one percent of the country’s population, but at least 70 percent of the commercial farms, occupying vast tracts of the most fertile land, belong to them.

The statement continues: “We recommend that some form of truth commission could be crucial to establishing justice and reconciliation in Zimbabwe because there have been many incidents of violence and human rights violations” against specifically targeted local groups and individuals.

Aside from the abuses of the past two years, food has recently been used as a political weapon, resulting in suffering for many. And many could die as a result unless those responsible know that they will be held accountable and change their course of action.

Should we convene an international church gathering in these conditions? What if there is still a food shortage or even starvation next year? Danisa Ndlovu, bishop of the host Brethren in Christ Church believes that “to change the venue due to food shortages would be hypocritical. It will not in any way change the Zimbabwean situation. It will only help those who would be privileged to attend the conference at another venue since they will dine and be filled while some of our people in Zimbabwe are starving.”

Goodwill Shana says: “I’d rather have peace and justice than food. If no one comes to Zimbabwe, that changes nothing. You just leave us alone to starve. Even if you send relief, we still do not have the solidarity we need. If anyone objects to your coming to Zimbabwe, I would love to talk with him or her.”

All of these leaders confirm what my own experience suggests: international visitors are not only safe in Bulawayo but desired and received with gracious hospitality. More importantly, the churches deserve to see our eyes and hear our voice of support and solidarity, both in their place during Africa 2003 and in our places before and afterwards.