Zimbabwe's Christian community has rejected President Robert Mugabe's re-election last month as marred by violence and intimidation and expressed support for efforts to form a government of national unity.
In a statement obtained today, the heads of all the churches in the predominantly Christian country said the race between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was marked by the worst violence since independence in 1980.
Mr Mugabe won a landslide victory last month in a vote that was ultimately boycotted by Mr Tsvangirai and denounced by Western nations. Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says pro-Mugabe militia have killed at least 113 of its supporters.
"We, the churches of Zimbabwe, stand ready and committed to partner with all efforts that will result in a transitional authority and subsequently a government of national unity, to bring peace stability and reconciliation within the nation," the church statement said.
The 84-year-old Zimbabwean leader, in power since the end of British rule, blames the opposition for the bloodshed.
"People were were subjected to the most traumatic forms of violence that included torture, murder, abductions, displacement and psychological trauma," the Heads of Christian Denominations said in the statement.
"Based on the reality of the conditions prevailing on the ground, our conclusion is that the will of the people of Zimbabwe was not given authentic expression during these elections," they said, adding that the violence was continuing.
Mr Tsvangirai, who cited the violence for his withdrawal from the June vote, has demanded that the government halt all attacks on his supporters as one of several pre-conditions to negotiating with Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF.
The MDC leader also wants an African Union envoy named to help mediate talks and Mugabe to recognise his victory in a March 27th poll. Mr Tsvangirai won the first round but failed to get the absolute majority needed to avoid a second ballot.
Reuters