Emotions were very high yesterday when members of different churches in Harare shed tears while praying during an inter-denominational prayer to end xenophobia in South Africa.
The prayer against xenophobia was hosted by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, and different church leaders called on government to provide political and economic solutions to curb mass exodus of people who were now affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The different church organisations represented included the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Union for Development of Apostolic and Zion Churches in Southern Africa (UDACIZA), the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe and politicians like Harare West MP Jessie Majome (MDC-T) and musician, Pastor Lawrence Haisa.
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Zimbabwe Council of Churches president Bishop Ishmael Mukuwanda said there was need to acknowledge the sacredness of life and for Africa to pray against the “evil spirit” causing mass killings that were being perpetrated by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and even the recent killings in South Africa due to xenophobia.
“We need to pray, and also come up with solutions and urge politicians and MPs to do something to correct the reasons why our children are running away to South Africa, because if we do not correct that, we will not get an everlasting solution,” Mukuwanda said.
“We need to acknowledge the sacredness of life because why is it that it is only in Africa where we find Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and why is it only in Africa where we find brother against another and killing each other mercilessly?”
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Added Mukuwanda: “We need to adhere to the commandment of loving thy neighbour and call upon South Africa to treat others fairly and deal with delinquent behaviour and unfair labour practices.”
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe president Shingi Munyeza called on government to further deepen its engagement strategy by proffering practical, appropriate, relevant, immediate and long-term remedies to the diverse categories of Zimbabwean immigrants living in South Africa.
“We further implore the government of Zimbabwe to take urgent political and economic steps to reduce the need for our people to become economic refugees in neighbouring countries where they are exposed to all kinds of humiliation and xenophobic attacks,” Munyeza said.
UDACIZA secretary-general Reverend Edison Tsvakai said xenophobia had severely affected members of the Vapostori sect as they were mostly unemployed and engaged in cross-border trade.
“Most of the Vapostori make metal buckets and pots and they camp in South Africa selling their wares to make a living and are susceptible to this xenophobic violence. We should pray against this demonic spirit that has entered people,” Tsvakai said.
A representative of the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe Douglas Tigere said the South African government’s move to deploy the army should be complemented by reaching out to the perpetrators so that they change their attitudes and mindsets, and encourage counselling of victims.
The churches promised to engage their counterparts in South Africa in efforts to end xenophobia as well as to help the returning victims with shelter, clothes and food.
