 |
April 24,
2008 |
Dear World News and Prophecy Subscriber,
Every year in Africa people are devoured by crocodiles.
In the rural areas this is a sad fact of life. Often an
attack comes when a person is alone, with little warning
or notice by others. But in Zimbabwe, a once rich and prosperous
southern African country, an entire nation is being devoured,
not by an animal, but a man who is likewise a cunning predator
to all who get in his way. His name is Mugabe. Unlike the
quick and lonely attacks along the waterways of Africa,
this onslaught is being acted out on the passive world stage.
If changes do not come soon, there will be nothing left,
and the world will be asking, "Who lost Zimbabwe?"
Since 1980 Robert Mugabe has presided over the nation known
in colonial times as Rhodesia. The legacy of a self-sustaining
nation has been squandered to the point that today inflation
runs rampant and food must be imported. For more than a
year a government-induced famine has created one of the
world's lowest life expectancies. There is war in
Zimbabwe; the government is waging it against its own people.
Since an election on March 29, the country has been in
a stalemate. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's
party, Movement for Democratic Change, won the most seats
in the parliamentary election. But the Mugabe government
will not release results of the presidential election. This
week they began "recounting" votes in 23 districts,
21 of which had been won by the MDC, in what many fear to
be a blatant attempt to skew election results.
There have been calls for Great Britain to invade the country
and oust the government, something not likely to happen.
The general populace is immobilized by fear. They don't
have the weapons in hand to mount any sizable uprising.
It was reported this week that a boatload of guns and rockets
shipped from China has been turned back at South African
ports. It is hoped that no other African port will allow
this shipment to be offloaded. The weapons would likely
be used to suppress the last elements of passion for freedom.
The lack of leadership from surrounding African nations
has been disappointing. South Africa, the largest, has not
taken a tough stance to effect any change. The sad truth
is that in recent years no one, either within Zimbabwe or
externally, has been able to curb the wildly erratic and
mercurial government. What has happened in Zimbabwe is a
shame to the modern world.
I have visited Zimbabwe, and I know the creative energies
of its people. The land has vast potential for development
for the benefit of its own and neighboring peoples. There
is no excuse for the suffering the citizens must now endure.
What hope is there for Zimbabwe? In the short term, hopes
hinge on the current government stepping down under pressure.
Many believe the March 29 election represents a democratic
change. New leadership could bring the opportunity to reverse
years of oppression and tyranny that has reduced this once
prosperous nation to pauper status. Armed intervention would
only lead to more bloodletting and savagery. There has been
enough killing. Let it stop now.
I believe there is hope in the gospel message that God
desires to offer the people of Zimbabwe and this entire
world. Paul, himself, prayed that the gospel be granted "free
course" (2 Thessalonians 3:1, King James Version)
to spread the good news of Christ's return and the
peace He will bring to this world.
Pray for the peace and welfare of Zimbabwe. May God be merciful
to its good people, giving them a period of refuge from the
dark years of terror.
Keep watching,
|
