African leaders called to protect life and democracy in Zimbabwe

Six global ecumenical bodies have called on African leaders to protect the rights of Zimbabweans to life, dignity and democracy.

The call came in a joint statement on Friday by the general secretaries of the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World YWCA, the World Student Christian Federation and the World Alliance of YMCAs.

The statement calls for "an urgent affirmation and protection of the right to life and dignity for all Zimbabweans", as well as "for adherence to democratic principles and processes in the mediation process and a return of the rule of law inside Zimbabwe".

In the statement, the general secretaries also criticise the Southern African Development Community for failing to help President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change reach a power-sharing deal during a meeting last Sunday.

"We are deeply disappointed and saddened that the SADC leadership and Zimbabwe's political leaders have once again squandered an opportunity to take decisive, credible and transformative action," the statement says.

"By failing to fully address the growing humanitarian catastrophe and question of illegitimacy of the current government, SADC leaders have let down the people of Zimbabwe."

The ecumenical organisations have called for future SADC and African Union-sponsored talks on the Zimbabwean crisis to include representatives of civil society and churches.

They have also called on the UN, EU and the President-elect of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to "mobilise and increase direct humanitarian support for the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe".