Statement by SACBC on Zimbabwe
(Issued by Fr. Chris Townsend, media officer, SACBC, 10th April 2008)
The deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe calls for credible mediation.
The situation in Zimbabwe is of regional, continental and international concern. As President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference and on behalf of the Catholic Community in Southern Africa, I call on the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to act swiftly to diffuse this tension by mandating a mediator of sufficient international repute, such as Kofi Annan, to ensure a solution that is acceptable to all Zimbabweans.
I urge President Mbeki, the leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union leaders to use all of their influence and skill to intervene for the release of the Zimbabwean election results.
The apparent impunity and lack of respect for the democratic process that has allowed this delay is a cause for grave concern. The postponement of the release of the results has only fuelled tension and fear in Zimbabwe. The credibility of a peaceful vote has been undermined by this delay and the posturing by political parties. This time of uncertainty has created an opportunity for lawlessness.
I trust that the concerns and future of the people of Zimbabwe will be placed first.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI.
Archbishop of Johannesburg.
President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Published April 8, 2008

Zimbabweans once again tried to change their leadership by demanding the departure of President Robert Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe for 21 years. His dictatorship delays progress and prosperity for all Zimbabweans as they suffer from high inflation, unemployment, and food shortages. 

Last year, the people of Somalia caught a glimpse of tranquility. It was fleeting and certainly not without its violent interruptions, but the few months of rule under the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) is now being called Somalia’s ‘golden era’ by top United Nations officials. In recent weeks, the area around Mogadishu has collapsed into a bloodbath that has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 90,000 individuals, on top of the tens of thousands who had already fled their homes. Famine is likely and disease and malnourishment plague the streets. Indeed we may wonder how the ‘golden era’ so quickly disappeared.

The United States’ role in Somalia has been limited since the deaths of 18 soldiers in Mogadishu in 1993. Fearing a public outcry, the Bush Administration has been reluctant to get involved in Somalia, despite its alleged breeding ground for terrorism. But when the UIC took over in the summer of last year, the United States once again saw reason for military involvement in the Horn of Africa.