Far from seeing reform after Robert Mugabe was toppled, the country has fallen into deeper crisis as millions are ‘reduced to paupers’. Power cuts from dawn to long after dusk are causing families to cook on firewood in almost total darkness. Monthly earnings barely cover two weeks’ living expenses. With Mnangagwa things have gone from bad to worse with outlandish austerity measures causing 175% inflation. Multiple currencies replaced by another new Zimbabwe dollar, fuel subsidies cut, poor harvests, a cyclone and drought have compounded problems. The Zimbabwe Church is calling for the international community and the government to hear the cries of Zimbabwean families surviving on two meals a day and lacking life-saving medicine. UK aid agency CAFOD is asking for national dialogue, for all in authority to come together and address the current crisis as they do what they can to assist with food, clean water supplies, and seeds (70% of the population grow their own food).
Zimbabwe: governance crisis and church aid
Written by David Fletcher 15 Aug 2019Additional Info
- Pray: for honest and wise political reform, and for international aid to ease the effects of drought and cyclone. (Psalm 34:17-19)
- More: www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-08/church-responds-to-humanitarian-crisis-in-zimbabwe.html
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