The Officers of the Council released the following communique following the SACC National Executive Committee meeting on 5 August 2008.

On Violence

While encouraged by the increasing signs that the Zimbabwe talks might soon lead to agreement, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) is concerned over reports of persistently high levels of violence in Zimbabwe, causing untold suffering to Zimbabwe's people. The NEC is concerned that unless curbed soon, the violence will undermine the legitimacy of any agreement in Zimbabwe.

"We are pleased that ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change have at last managed to come to the negotiating table," said the SACC President, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, "but of what use is a political agreement when the people are living in the midst of death," he asked rhetorically.

Characterising their message as "Truth told in love," the NEC insisted that statements from Zanu-PF and President Mbeki which say that the violence in Zimbabwe is caused by both sides are beside the point. Zimbabweans are suffering, Zimbabweans are dying and Robert Mugabe's government has the primary responsibility to act immediately and decisively to halt the violence. The church leaders were especially alarmed by increasingly frequent reports of atrocities, including the hacking off of opponents limbs. They urged leaders on both sides to appeal for peace and tolerance.

The NEC expressed dissatisfaction with President Mbeki¹s responses to the problem of violence in Zimbabwe so far. "The President invited us to provide evidence of the nature and scale of the violence," recalled SACC General Secretary Eddie Makue. "We submitted an extensive dossier to his office but we have not been satisfied by the response."

On the Needs of the People of Zimbabwe

Beyond the possibility of a political settlement that will see the political actors share power, the NEC warned that political power sharing must not be the be all and end all of the Zimbabwean negotiations. Negotiating politicians may distribute positions and resources between and among themselves, but it is the needs of the people of Zimbabwe that must be met above all others.

"We have had talks with a number of Zimbabwean civil society organisations that have shared their trepidation about the elite nature of the negotiations. It is important to make space for the voices of all Zimbabweans to be heard in negotiating a more just political dispensation," SACC Deputy General Secretary Dr. Vuyani Vellem added.

On Zimbabwean (and Other) Nationals in South Africa

The NEC reiterated concerns raised recently about the mixed signals that our government is sending to the people of Zimbabwe living in South African and now 'twice uprooted'--first by the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe and again by the scourge of xenophobia in South Africa.

"The ineptitude of government as xenophobic attacks raged in the country was disgraceful; their belated interventions were largely incoherent and ad hoc; then came the government's media event, the National Memorial Tribute in honour of refugees; but soon after this event the government is back to its old tricks and habits; without a clear plan, foreign nationals are being forcibly re-integrated and brutally threatened with deportation. In this way the government is indirectly sending a message of affirmation and support to the xenophobes who hate, kill and maim foreign nationals," Prof. Maluleke warned.

For its part the SACC has appointed a Pastoral task team on Zimbabwe which will monitor re-intergration processes and liaise with sister churches in Zimbabwe. It has also vowed to intensify its collaboration and solidarity with Zimbabwean churches and NGOs in the time ahead. On 21 September, the SACC will conduct services in celebration of foreign nationals living in South Africa.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Eddie Makue, General Secretary (082 853 8781) or
Prof TS Maluleke, President (082 925 5232)