MWR : MWC calls for prayer as Zimbabwe runoff nears

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June 23, 2008 issue

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MWC calls for prayer as Zimbabwe runoff nears

By Ferne Burkhardt Mennonite World Conference

Call to prayer

Mennonite World Conference encourages people to fast and pray June 26-27:

that God will intervene to end the violence and suffering that have afflicted Zimbabwe;
that the churches of Zimbabwe will be signs of God’s love and justice in the midst of this struggle;
that those who have been intimidated will be able to exercise their right to vote without further threat;
that election monitors will be permitted to play a credible role to assure integrity and lack of violence;
that the government in power will allow honest results to be reported; and
that, whatever the election results, the government in power will come to the table with opposition political leaders, military and security forces, and church and civil society organizations to map out a workable path for the country’s future.

STRASBOURG, France — Mennonite World Conference is sending a deacon couple and calling for prayer and fasting June 26-27 as Zimbabweans face a tense runoff presidential election.

“Zimbabwe is at a highly volatile time of crisis, and the threat of long-standing violence looms over the runoff and its aftermath,” said MWC president Nancy Heisey in requesting intercession from the global Anabaptist faith family.

“The Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe, led by Bishop Danisa Ndlovu, is urging sisters and brothers around the world to support them at this time by praying and fasting on the day before and the day of the runoff election, June 26-27.”

Dan Nighswander and Yvonne Snider-Nighswander, Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers in South Africa, are going to Zimbabwe for two weeks, beginning about June 18.

MC Canada has released them to serve as deacons of the MWC community to provide encouragement to Bishop Ndlovu’s family, pastors and others under stress.

They will also watch for and report additional ways for the global Anabaptist family to stand in communion with Zimbabwe’s churches.

“We consider this invitation a sacred call,” Dan Nighswander said. “By representing the concern and prayerful support of the global communion of Anabaptist churches, we trust we can make a difference.”

The Nighswanders expect to accompany the Ndlovus as they go about their business and will help however they can in response to advice from the Ndlovus and other church leaders.

On June 3, MWC officials sent a letter to the heads of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations, citing the concern of international churches over the deepening crisis and rising violence in Zimbabwe.

The letter calls for an international peace force to be present during the runoff and for international election observers with freedom to circulate. It asks that people displaced due to fear and violence be protected and brought back to vote, and that election results be quickly and independently confirmed.

Results of the first election, held March 29, were never independently verified. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared that neither President Robert Mugabe nor challenger Morgan Tsvangirai received the majority required to win.

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