Zimbabwe Update

On July 4, US$1 dollar was worth Z$35 billion, and a litre of fuel costs Z$60 billion. Official estimates of Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate as of February 2008 were a staggering 165,000 percent. Estimates by independent economists now range anywhere between one million and 10 million percent.

This economic, political and social situation in Zimbabwe is continuing to escalate causing many people to flee to Zambia. Some citizens who were assumed to be supporters of the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, have witnessed the brutal killing of their family members and loved ones and have been victims of harassment by the police. This suppression of civil liberties and freedom of choice have created an atmosphere of tension with an increasing frequency of violent incidents.

NCCA Christian World Service works in Zimbabwe through our partner, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), which has actively monitored the Mach 29 elections and the run-off elections on 27 June. ZCC concluded that "the extended delay in the release of the results and the violence that followed after their announcement has demonstrated to the international community that the elections were neither free nor fair."

ZCC continues to implement rainwater harvesting programs, support people with HIV/AIDS, advocate for justice, peace, reconciliation and equity in society, help empower women, youth and children and facilitates capacity building to improve the lives of Zimbabweans.

NCCA CWS has not organised any appeal for Zimbabwe at this time. If you would like to give, CWS will send the money to ZCC to assist in alleviating the situation of the communities they are serving.