The World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission has issued a prayer alert calling for Christians to pray for the unfolding situation in the southern African nation as President Robert Mugabe faces the possibility of impeachment by the nation’s Parliament.
In the alert Godfrey Yogarajah, the deputy secretary general of the WEA, called for prayer for Zimbabwe “during this important moment”. “Plagued by socio-economic and political challenges for decades, the current situation could be a catalyst for much-needed change in the nation,” he said.
Among its prayer points, the WEA-RLC has asked for prayer for the peaceful democratic transition of power, that there would be no violence during this period, and that the church in Zimbabwe would be “salt and light and a beacon of hope to the nation during this time of uncertainty”.
The call comes after the military last week placed Mr Mugabe, who has served as prime minister and then president since 1980, under house arrest after he removed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, opening the way for his wife, Grace, to replace him as president. On Sunday, the ruling party ZANU-PF removed Mr Mugabe as its leader and gave him a deadline to resign or face impeachment. In a speech on Sunday night, Mr Mugabe vowed to continue in power. A motion to strip him of the presidency is expected to be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday.
Last week, the heads of various Christian denominations in Zimbabwe issued a statement in which they called for prayer, peace, respect for human dignity, a transitional government of national unity and a nation dialogue. “We are the people of God who are being called to champion the spirit of reconciliation,” they said in the statement which was delivered on video by Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata, general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.
