The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) repeated its call for an end to violence in Zimbabwe and pledged to continue its work with other Christian Councils in the region to promote political and economic stability there.

The NEC met in an extraordinary session yesterday to discuss urgent matters arising from the Council's Central Committee meeting at the end of May, in particular the crisis in Zimbabwe and the needs of people displaced by the recent wave of "xenophobic" violence that swept many communities across South Africa.

The Council had expected to finalise plans to send an SACC observer delegation to Zimbabwe later this week to be present throughout the presidential runoff election. However, executive members were profoundly disturbed to learn that increasing levels of violence in Zimbabwe have caused Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to announce their withdrawal from the election.

"It is clear that the conditions for a free and fair poll do not exist in Zimbabwe at the moment," said SACC General Secretary Eddie Makue. "However, the government may still go through the motions of an election on 27 June. Churches are committed to working for peace, justice and stability in the coming months, poll or no poll."

The Council's Executive decided to send a high-profile delegation of church leaders on a pastoral visit to Zimbabwe in the near future as a visible sign of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe. The SACC will also inform its sister Councils in the region to invite them to take part in the initiative. "It is imperative that the ecumenical community in the region work together to have a collective presence and witness," said Bishop Lunga ka Siboto, Presiding Bishop of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church and a member of the NEC.

The Executive also expressed concern about those displaced from their homes by the recent series of violent attacks on South African and foreign nationals around the country. "A number of churches are doing a commendable job of ministering to families affected by the violence," said Mr. Makue. However, several Executive Committee members had recently made visits to camps where uprooted people were being housed and they were alarmed by the conditions they found.

"At Rosettenville, we found that several thousand people from fourteen countries had been dumped on recently cleared, uneven land with little more than tents," said Bishop Peter Lee, the Anglican Bishop of Christ the King Diocese in Johannesburg. "It is a potential humanitarian disaster."

Many displaced people face uncertain futures, particularly where the Department of Home Affairs has only partially completed the processing of their applications for asylum. It is unclear if government intends to deport them, reintegrate them into the communities where they lived previously, or identify new, more secure places for them to live.

The Executive recognised the work being done by its provincial structures to facilitate the reintegration of families into communities, where possible. It encouraged provincial councils and local churches to consider holding special services of prayer, repentance and reconciliation in conjunction with the reintegration process. The General Secretary emphasised, though, that any action taken must involve careful consultation with the people affected.

Given the awful pain and suffering that has been caused by the violence in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, NEC member were particularly saddened and disappointed by the trend in political rhetoric to couch statements in very violent speech. "Julius Malema and Zwelinzima Vavi have unwittingly sparked an important dialogue in South Africa concerning the power of the tongue," said the SACC's President, Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke.

"Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common for people to try to amplify their opinions by saying that they will kill or die to realise their objectives," Prof. Maluleke continued. "Such rhetorical flourishes inhibit the entrenchment of a culture of tolerance and democracy. They are the language of force, not the language of respect and persuasion. In a political climate where there is already an alarming tendency to resort to violence, such language is not only unnecessary, but also extremely unhelpful."

The NEC joined Prof. Maluleke in calling on political and community leaders to use measured and responsible language consistent with the principles of South Africa's Constitution.

For more information contact: Mr. Eddie Makue, General Secretary (011 241 7817 or 082 853 8781)