Christian Anti-Poverty Group Deplores Zimbabwe's 'Alarming' Deterioration
A global Christian anti-poverty group is sounding the alarm on Zimbabwe's economic, political, and human rights deterioration.
Micah Challenge – a global advocacy initiative of the World Evangelical Alliance, which represents more than 420 million Christians, and the Micah Network – is speaking out against the situation in the south African nation which, among other problems, holds the record for the world's highest inflation rate – 1,700 percent.
"The current political situation in Zimbabwe is of grave concern and if measures are not taken to mitigate the situation, the impact will be felt on every street in the whole Southern African region," read the recently released Micah Challenge statement on Zimbabwe. "Already the economic conditions in Zimbabwe have deteriorated alarmingly and are affecting other Southern African countries."
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Thousands of Zimbabweans are migrating to neighboring countries in search of economic security and escaping political violence. The country, though by name a democracy, is crushing protests against the country's economic crisis – leading to what some fear a police state or dictatorship.
"We are concerned that resentment is steadily building in Zimbabwe in those who are excluded from being heard, and from participating in the strengthening of democratic infrastructures, and that they may seek undemocratic ways to dislodge the government," warned the campaign group which listed rebel insurgency and terrorist assistance as possible threats if the situation is not addressed.
The Micah Challenge campaign was created through a partnership between the Micah Network and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) to advocate for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to halve poverty by 2015. The Micah Network is a group of more than 300 Christian organizations providing relief, development and justice activities worldwide.
President Robert Mugabe's regime is mainly blamed for the economic crisis by both his citizens and by the Congress on Trade Unions which accuses the administration of corruption and mismanagement, according to The Associated Press.
In retaliation, Mugabe has harshly crackdowned on dissenting voices including on several Christian and human rights advocacy groups.
Earlier this year, leaders of both the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance and the Student Christian Movement in Zimbabwe were arrested sparking concern among global church bodies such as the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation Council.
In a more prominent incident, main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, along with 48 members were violently beaten, arrested and detained by the government while on their way to prayer meeting, according to AP. Some of the party members were even tortured while others continue to be detained by the regime.
"The use of violence by government and security forces is unacceptable under any circumstances. It is especially disturbing when it is used against people simply wanting to pray for a better country or when they simply wish to express themselves," said WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi, in a statement.
On Tuesday, the first of a two-day national strike called by Zimbabwe's trade union took place in its capital, Harare, to protest against economic hardship blamed on the government of President Mugabe, reported AP. The strike against the country's economic crisis pressed for higher pay.
Zimbabwe economic problems include an 80 percent unemployment rate, severe shortage of food, hard currency and gasoline.
