Monday, April 28, 2008

Uncertain Democracy

It has been nearly a month since the supposedly democratic electon in the African nation of Zimbabwe. The citizens of that country still await word on the results. Most pundits believe that the government of Robert Mugabe was defeated and he is simply refusing to publish the results in order to hold on to power. The opposition leader who was probably elected president left the country awaiting the results, certain that he would have been attacked if he didn't absent himself for a time.

The word we get is that many people have been arrested, beaten, threatened since the election, as a crude way of suppressing democratic freedom. Yet thousands returned to Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries for the election because they wanted to exercize their right to vote.

Christian churches and church organizations such as schools and hospitals continue to function in this uncertain environment but it is not easy. We can pray for the well-being of these faithful Christian servants and for the steps toward democracy.

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