Zimbabwean bishops call on government, civic leaders to build peace

Published: 2003-12-17

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNS) -- Zimbabwe's bishops are calling on government and civic leaders to work for peace and safeguard human rights. "The political situation is tense, the economic situation is chaotic and the social situation is unbearable for the majority of the people," the bishops said in a late November pastoral letter signed by Zimbabwe's eight bishops and the administrator of Harare Archdiocese. This is "undermining human dignity," the bishops said. They called on "those who have the responsibility to correct this situation" to act now. They said the current situation in the country has allowed the rich to acquire more wealth, while high inflation and taxes have severely hurt the poor. "Life in Zimbabwe is at its lowest ebb," they added. "We cannot have lasting peace without truth, justice, love and freedom," said the bishops, who called on all people of good will to "be seriously concerned about the common good."

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