Church leaders stood and prayed for the people of Zimbabwe on a busy Johannesburg street this afternoon. The prayer was led by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, who stood with other national leaders behind a banner "Operation Hope for Zimbabwe" in front of the SA Council of Churches headquarters in downtown Johannesburg.

It was part of a 'blessing' and send off of the first trucks loaded with emergency relief for Zimbabwean people displaced by the forced removals of the Robert Mugabe government.

Among the other national church leaders who participated in the service were Methodist Bishop Ivan Abrahams, Pastor Ray McCauley, of Rhema and Dr Molefe Tsele, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.

During a press conference afterwards the church leaders said that the 37 tons of food and nearly 5 000 blankets were a small beginning to the initiative to help the millions of suffering people in Zimbabwe. It was planned to send a further shipment on August 18.

An amount of over R400 000 had been collected to date for Zimbabwe.

The church leaders said that they would be looking at additional aid from overseas as many donors had expressed interest in getting involved.

They added that the South African churches have agreed upon a campaign designed to:

• Provide immediate relief -- in the form of blankets, food etc to people affected by Operation Murambatsvina, but particularly the most vulnerable sectors of the society, namely those living in transit camps, the elderly and women with children.
• Explore ways of providing shelter for those who have been made homeless by Operation Murambatsvina; and
• Work with other international agencies, such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF and UN Habitat, to promote long-term development in Zimbabwe.
• And promote and encourage human rights, justice and dignity for all the people of Zimbabwe.

For more information: Rev Ron Steele, 082 891 7458