Zimbabwe: SAARC welcomes election

Gaborone, Botswana, June 29 2000

The Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches has welcomed Zimbabwe's fifth general election. In a statement issued by SAARC coordinator, Rev. Majaha Nhliziyo, the Warc regional body said:

We congratulate the people of Zimbabwe for the peaceful manner in which they exercised their voting over the polling days of June 24 and 25 2000. We are happy to note the acceptance of the results by the political parties which contested the elections.

Now that the election hurdle has been passed let Zimbabweans and, indeed, all Southern African peoples use this renewed democratic framework to revisit and settle the land question which is crucial for the economic development of Africa. In addressing the land issue it is essential to maintain peace, reconciliation, the rule of law and a united front in order to prevail over unjust world economic forces. In this renewed engagement partisan interests must give way to national and African interests.

May God bless Zimbabwe. May God bless Africa and let justice flood her lands and flow like an everlasting stream.

SAARC is a regional fellowship of 19 Warc member churches in the 9 Southern African countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For further information contact the SAARC coordinator, Rev. Majaha Nhliziyo.