A different neighbor
It is very sad to see the people of Zimbabwe and especially to see their suffering. We have about 2 million refugees in South Africa from Zimbabwe. They are prepared to work for very low wages and this causes trouble with South Africans, who are rightly so not prepared to work for these wages.The main cause of this problem is not the poor economy or the bad rain season, or a lack of entrepreneurial spirit. The main cause of the problems in Zimbabwe is Robert Mugabe.
I have spoken to a couple of Zimbabweans over the last months and with a couple of my black SA friends who agree with me. What they have actually told me and this I did not know as a white boy, is that Mugabe is holding on to power, because as soon as he steps down he will be charged with the murder of a couple of villages in Zimbabwe. Since hearing this his action now make sense. I now understand why he is so desperate. In his desperation and fear of death, like any dictator, he has ruined the lives of many. He has ruined Zimbabwe.
On days like these I don' t feel like being Christian towards this man. I wonder what Jesus thinks of this man, if we could call him a man. Incredible to think that Jesus loves this man.
Read more on Mugabe
How do we as South Africans love this neighbor?
posted by Hermann/Adel at 2:36 PM
7 Comments:
It is so tough to find love for people like Mugabe. In fact, I do not think it possible except it be God's love welling up inside of us.
I wonder how much time we give to praying for this sort of leader though. (I know for me it is little to none.) It is so much easier praying for leaders whom we like!
What might God's purposes for Zimbabwe be in the midst of such trying times?
4:04 PM
That's a great idea! I should pray for him, but the purpose of the people in Zimbabwe???
9:05 AM
God loves him, just as He loves the millions suffering because of his actions.
The South African Council of Churches and Zimbabwean church leaders have done much to support ordinary Zimbabweans and speak out against Mugabe.
Christians need to pray, but we need to act - perhaps to the extent of actively seeking to overthrow this evil government through peaceful mass action?
10:09 AM
I agree with Arnie,
We have to pray and maybe we can put some pressure on our government to act ? There's also a very practical way to help. Johannesburg is filled with Zimbabwe citizens and we can actively help them to help their relatives across the border ...
12:16 PM
Tom and Arnie....
I like the way you guys think.
Where do we begin?
2:07 PM
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3:52 PM
Lets take action, then!
The South African Council of Churches has launched a fund to help Zimbabwean churches - one thing we could do is to all encourage those reading our blogs, friends and other contacts to give to this fund.
I also found a website and blog of an organisation working in Zim (http://www.sokwanele.com/blog/blog.html). The blog is worth a read!!!
I've added a post giving these options and encouraging people to take action. Why not do the same on your blog? Actually, why don't ask every blogger we know to publish at least one post on Zim and how people there can be supported? E-mail me if you would like me to send you the html with all the links (would save you some time!).
I've e-mailed Sokwanele to ask how we can help, will let you know once I've heard from them!
5:15 PM
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