By Ndumiso Tshuma
Church leaders from across Zimbabwe are taking a proactive role in advocating for dialogue and engagement in peace and unity efforts.
Leveraging their credibility, moral authority, and reputation within local communities, they aim to act as neutral mediators in conflict resolution and reconciliation.
At a two-day workshop hosted by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) in Bulawayo, Bishop Charles Masunungure, a peacebuilding expert and ZCC representative, highlighted the importance of church leadership in facilitating dialogue between political factions and civil society.
“Mediation and conflict resolution require a concerted effort from ecumenical leadership,” Masunungure noted. “Church leaders should be formally recognised as neutral facilitators in peace negotiations and reconciliation initiatives.”
He stated that church leaders are seen as trusted figures capable of fostering open communication among various groups, making them ideal for mediating and de-escalating conflicts.
“Church leaders should create spaces to strengthen dialogue and engagement, utilizing their reputation, access to communities, and neutrality to mediate conflicts and build a cohesive and peaceful society,” Masunungure added.
He also stressed the need for enhanced interfaith cooperation to promote peace across different religious communities, urging the formation of interfaith councils to unite diverse groups and reduce religious tensions.
Reverend Mbongeni Dube, a prominent Lutheran pastor and ZCC representative, pointed out the link between peace and sustainable development, stating, “We are discussing ways in which the church and other stakeholders can come together to foster a peaceful Zimbabwe, as sustainable development is unattainable without peace.”
