Zimbabwe’s resources must benefit its people
Below is an excerpt from a recently published Pastoral Letter from the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference:
We urge our political leaders to:
i) Prioritize poverty eradication by using proceeds from natural resources like diamonds, land, etc., for the development of the whole nation and all its citizens. In its final message, the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops noted that Africa is rich in human and natural resources but ‘many of our people are still left to wallow in poverty and misery, wars and conflicts, crisis and chaos. These are very rarely caused by natural disasters. They are largely due to human decisions and activities by people who have no regard for the common good … .’
(No. 5).ii) Stop the active and tacit collusion of those undermining the fight against corruption. Corruption is a cancer destroying our nation.
iii) Prosecute wrong doers and widely publicize any disciplinary action so that no one is seen to commit crime with impunity.
iv) Desist from intimidating and mistreating members of the public, the media, civic communities, etc. Uphold human rights.
v) Uniformed forces should maintain peace and security for all citizens at all times and especially before, during and after elections, and do so impartially.
vi) We implore our political leadership in the coalition government to reflect deeply on the timing of elections bearing in mind the unhealed state of the nation and the fragile state of the economy. They shoulder a heavy responsibility to serve and save Zimbabwe. They must think and act in pursuit of the Common Good. In the event of elections, implement the SADC guidelines in full.
vii) We expect our members of Parliament to make an effort to spearhead the mitigation of the pressing needs of the people they represent and desist from being preoccupied with enriching themselves.