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The Call is ringing out across Zimbabwe to return to God, and train the poor to farm in a profitable and sustainable way. In response to this call, on Sunday 26th September thousands of Christians will gather in urban and rural-combined church meetings across Zimbabwe to cry out in a national day of prayer. Worldwide Christians are invited to join Zimbabweans in prayer for the nation. These gatherings are being organised by Trumpet Call for Transformation, a partnership between the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and Foundations for Farming. ‘We invite you to partner with us for the transformation of this nation. Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to the Zimbabweans. Pray for the ministry of Foundations for Farming – transforming individuals, communities and nations through faithful and productive use of the land. (see Prayer Alert 3510) Pray: that the Church will turn to God in active repentance (2Chron.7:14) and continue to reach out to the hungry and poor (Isa.58:9-10) More: http://www.lovezim.org/Groups/134601/Love_Zim/Prayer_Day/Prayer_Day.aspx
Robert Mugabe’s re-election raised fears by police that MDC-T (the oposition party) plans Egypt-style mass demonstrations. Mr Tsvangirai does not recognise the results citing irregularities in the polling process and said MDC-T would have nothing to do with the Government. He directed MDC-T members who won seats in the election to boycott Parliament. However, some of his party’s winning candidates see no reason why they should not go to Parliament and represent people who voted for them, saying Mr Tsvangirai should be concentrating on a court battle where the party lost. Others suggest Mr Tsvangirai is trying to block MPs from going to Parliament because he feared the results had set the ground for MDC-T Secretary-General Tendai Biti to take over the party’s presidency. Meanwhile fresh turbulence rocked the MDC-T in Matabeleland South as the party’s rebels claim they are still office holders within the party while officials have pronounced their expulsion.
Pray: that the people of Zimbabwe would remain positive and hopeful during this time of uncertainty pray for peace and stability. (Ps.36:1-4 & 10-11)
More: http://zimbabweelection.com/2013/08/06/is-mdc-t-heading-for-another-split/
Two issues supplied by a reliable but anonymous source. First: ‘Robert Mugabe’s Zanu Party (PF) is recruiting youths for training in sophisticated murder and torture techniques for a campaign of violence against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). The campaign of terror is expected to roll into motion in July after the South African soccer World Cup ends and the media spotlight shifts elsewhere. High-level sources within Zanu (PF), MDC-T and the security services said the purpose of this plan was to plunge the country into total anarchy making it impossible to continue with the drafting of a new constitution. The youth recruitment drive is expected to be funded by the state, there are 10,000 illegally recruited members of the Zanu (PF) youth militia on the government payroll. Second: Next week there is a Pastors' conference where leaders will be praying for unity and repentance between leaders and denominations to see both 2 Chron 7:13-14 and Isaiah 58:6-14 coming to pass especially in Zimbabwean Churches!’
Pray: for God's healing of relationships within Zimbabwean society at every level and for the stronghold of fear and death to be broken over the territory.(Eph.2:14)
Zimbabwe is facing a ‘dire’ food situation after erratic rains and ‘unusual’ mid-season droughts triggered critical levels of crop failure, Christian Aid has warned. The World Food Programme estimates the number of people who will need food assistance in the coming months at two million. Christian Aid said the insufficient maize and cereal harvests, low grain stocks and inflated prices have forced the Zimbabwean government to make expensive food imports primarily from neighbouring Zambia and South Africa. Christian Aid's country programme manager for Zimbabwe, Miriam Machaya, said that Insiza district had been particularly hard hit, with partner organisation Zimpro reporting that only three out of the 23 wards recording surplus food. ‘The food security situation in Zimbabwe is dire, especially in the arid and marginalised Matabeleland provinces where Christian Aid and our local partner organisations work,’ she warns.
Pray: for the people of Zimbabwe and the critical drought situation. Pray that the world will have compassion on them and help to alleviate their needs. (Is.58:10-11)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/millions.of.zimbabweans.at.risk.of.chronic.hunger/33900.htm
Zimbabweans went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a president and parliament, in an election that will mark the end of the troubled coalition government between veteran President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The election had been hit by allegations of fraud before the polls opened when Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF was accused of doctoring the electoral roll. The election will be the first to be held under the new constitution approved in a referendum in March this year. Mr Mugabe is accused of ruining one of Africa's most promising economies by seizing white-owned farms and giving them to landless blacks with little farming experience.Inflation reached an annual rate of 250,000,000% in late 2008. An estimated two million Zimbabweans left to seek work abroad. Since the coalition hyperinflation has ended and the economy has stabilized. Widespread corruption remains a sore point, particularly in the crucial diamond export sector. 60 – 70% of Zimbabweans actively belong to mainstream Christian denominations.
Pray: for vote rigging to be thwarted peacefully and may the next government take Zimbabwe out of corruption and into God's purposes for the nation. (Ps.33:10-12)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23513467
A Christian Students' Association in Zimbabwe has rebuked the country's power-sharing government for allowing the continuing collapse of the education sector in the country. ‘The cosmetic inclusive government has failed the young people of Zimbabwe as evidenced by the state of the education system,’ a Student Christian Movement said on 16th June, the Day of the African Child, when the killing in 1976 of black South African pupils protesting inferior education, and the compulsory teaching of Afrikaans is remembered. The collapse of the social services delivery system in Zimbabwe is directly linked to the human-created governance crisis and unless this is resolved the children of Zimbabwe will continue going to lecture rooms without lecturers, and getting into libraries without books. Pray: for the power sharing government to release appropriate funds and structures into needy administration bodies. (Dt.25:4)
Tensions are rising as Zimbabwe nears its election (due on 31 July). Previous elections led to the economy collapsing, critical food shortages and violence. As July 31st approaches many fear the same may happen . There is conflict between the two leading parties the election date and political change might shake the country. Churches have been asked to pray for Zimbabwe, that peace and stability will be found in Zimbabwe and there would be no violence. The coalition government has brought some hope and the economy has slightly recovered, but there’s a widening gap between the rich and poor. The country is unstable. Churches have been asked to pray that Zimbabwe will reach a point where people are safe and not living in poverty. Evangelical Alliance Viva's patron Rev Stephen Gaukroger said, ‘We are calling on UK churches to make Zimbabwe a focus for prayer at this crucial time.’
Pray: against violence and fear and for peace and stability. Pray that the children can grow up knowing they have a future and a hope. (Ps.9:3-4)
More: http://www.eauk.org/church/stories/churches-asked-to-pray-for-zimbabwe.cfm
Last month scores of supporters of Tsvangirai's party sheltered in churches after being attacked and forced out of their homes by militant supporters of Mugabe's party. The work of the compromise government has been characterised by fighting over allocation of key government posts. The drive to collect people's viewsof the new constitution has been disrupted several time by violent clashes between the two main political parties. Catholic Bishops have warned ‘Conditions in the country are not conducive to elections in 2011. We believe holding elections at this stage would be dangerously premature.’ The bishops are from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The statement was released on 22 February. Pray: for incidents of violence to decrease, an end to fear, for elections to safely go ahead in Gods timing. (Is.9:6)
The Archbishop of Canterbury is hoping to have face to face discussions with Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe next month amid the violent persecution of Anglicans in the country. Rowan Williams has requested a meeting with the Zimbabwean president when he travels to Harare as part of a tour of the south of the continent, according to his spokeswoman. Williams, who will become the first prominent British representative to visit Zimbabwe's capital in a decade, is making the journey in an attempt to ‘show solidarity’ with Anglicans in the region, she said. In recent months priests are said to have been beaten and arrested by police, staff evicted from church buildings and property seized, while some Anglicans have allegedly been arrested and murdered. Some have questioned whether Williams would make the trip due to the violent regime, but Lambeth Palace said there had never been any debate over the matter.
Pray: that the Archbishop will be given the insight and wisdom in approaching Mugabe that would lead to positive resolutions. (Pr.21:30)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/08/archbishop-canterbury-robert-mugabe
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met President Robert Mugabe on Oct.10th to deliver a dossier of attacks on Anglicans by excommunicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga. Kunonga formed a breakaway clique in 2007, seized church property, violently prevented Anglicans from worshipping in their buildings and intimidated clergy. Some priests received death threats at gunpoint. The dossier was made public on Oct.11th stating, ‘We respectfully ask that you as head of state put an end to this illegal harassment and allow us once again to use the properties which are rightly ours so that we may worship God in peace and serve our communities and our country.’ The document was signed by Archbishop Albert Chama, head of the Anglican Church's Province of Central Africa, five bishops from Zimbabwe and Bishop Trevor Mwamba from neighbouring Botswana.
Pray: that the meeting and show of solidarity with local Anglicans against violence would bring about change for Zimbabwe’s Christians. (Ps.133)