Church leader calls global faith family to remember Zimbabwe

Two years ago, Zimbabweans in Bulawayo and beyond eagerly anticipated hosting the Mennonite World Conference Assembly 2003. Today, they cling to memories of the miracle of that event and the support they felt from their global faith family. They also wonder if that family has now forgotten them as other crises around the world have taken over the news.

“Zimbabwe is crazy,” said Danisa Ndlovu, Brethren in Christ bishop of Zimbabwe and MWC vice-president, in a telephone interview June 8 during a North American visit. “It is much worse than in 2003. Then, money was in short supply. Now basic commodities are. The need for food is incredible.”

An already desperate situation due to continued drought, almost no harvest, a collapsed economy and the aftermath of another flawed election in March plummeted to new depths in May. That’s when Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian government apparently adopted a scorched-earth policy, detaining thousands of people, routing large numbers of street vendors from their stalls, and burning makeshift homes in shantytowns on the fringes of major cities, forcing people to flee to rural areas.

Published reports indicate that as many as 30,000 residents in cities, including Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, and Harare, the capital city, have been arrested or detained. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change reported that police and soldiers had forced up to 1.5 million people from their homes.

Ndlovu concurred with the description of Zimbabwe as “a massive internal refugee centre.” He believes members of his church are among those profoundly affected by this latest sweep but at the moment he is unable to confirm his suspicions.

“Economically, things are very difficult, but spiritually, the church has remained strong. Suffering has its own way of bringing people closer to God,” said the BICC bishop.

“God is at work [in Zimbabwe]. We have to open our eyes to see just how God is working.” Ndlovu invited the global community to think seriously about Zimbabwe again in its hour of need and to join the many faithful ones who continue to pray for the country and the MWC family there.

—Ferne Burkhardt for Mennonite World Conference