Churches call for poll embargo

Local churches under the banner Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) are pushing for the suspension of general elections to allow the country to 'heal past wounds, recover economically and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building’. A report on the allAfrica site notes that Reverend Kenneth Mtata, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) said the idea of the suspension followed a meeting convened by leaders of the churches to consider the currently unfolding national crisis. ‘The fact that the two main political parties remain stuck in the post-election mode and will soon embark on a new election mode means that Zimbabwe is unlikely to realise any meaningful engagement,’ said Mtata.