cover photo by Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Zimbabwe (MNN) ― Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, has won a recount in the contentious election. Presidential results from the March 29 election, which is thought to have gone to Mugabe's rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, have yet to be released.
Amidst growing tensions, there are now more calls for a coalition government to keep the peace.
Church leaders, too, are concerned about the likelihood of violence if the post-election deadlock remains unresolved. In a joint statement, leaders of the main religious denominations warned that if nothing changes, "We shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hot spots in Africa and elsewhere."
Global Aid Network's Charles Debter says the situation has had an impact on their team. "There was a concern that we would enter a time of potential violence if we sent our team into Zimbabwe in August. Things may escalate rather than become more stable. So we felt that we had better cancel our trip, or rather, postpone it, for another time."
GAiN USA serves alongside a local partner ministry who planted 300 new churches in 2004 through an effort known as Project Jericho. When they do go, the ministry will split the short-term team into two parts.
One group would be conducting medical clinics. That means aside from the actual medical treatment, teams would be handling the clinical days, doing crowd control, playing with kids and families that are waiting, and looking for ways to share faith.
The other part of the team will be distributing humanitarian aid. There is the possibility that this team will also minister in schools and churches nearby and possibly help with light construction work.
Debter says this team still needs funds and prayer support because "our team is able to enter into places that give them the opportunity to share the Gospel. Often it's places that they would not have access to unless they were bringing something that will provide tangible help. So it does open the door for the team; it gives them credibility. They're helping more than 1200 families."
