The South African Council of Churches has written an urgent letter to the Office of the Presidency requesting that President Thabo Mbeki send a delegation to Harare to help restore talks with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"It is our wish that President Mbeki makes a public statement to the South African public as to whether or not it is true that President Robert Mugabe is committed to the talks with leader of the MDC, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. We are anxious to have the President help to restore the talks, "the SACC general secretary, Dr Molefe Tsele said in a statement today.

"The news that President Mugabe has ruled out the possibility of talks taking place is not only worrying, but seems to us to be a grave set back, and a loss of opportunity, to normalise the boiling political and economic climate in Zimbabwe.

"As the Council of Churches, we have been listening to the cries and prayers of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, placing their hope and faith on the proposed talks and negotiations between Zanu-PF and MDC. We hear them tell us time and time again that the future hope for Zimbabwe is in the commitment of the two parties talking to each other, and not in any political stand off.

"President Mbeki has publicly said he had been personally told by President Mugabe that Zanu-PF is committed to the talks and that, in fact, the talks are underway. We have no reason to doubt our President, and hope that he would prevail in bringing the two parties together.

"The people of Zimbabwe, especially the Churches, have repeatedly told us that they are counting on us to assist them in finding a resolution to their acute economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. We will be failing in our moral obligation to be with them in their hour of need," said Tsele

Issued by Fr. Joe Mdhlela (083 641 1281) on behalf of the SACC

For further information, contact Rev. Dr. Molefe Tsele, General Secretary (082 458 2038)