Our Covenant with Zimbabwe

Dear Friends

Greetings in the Lord. Thank you very much for your persistent attention to the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and Pastors and the congregations are coping.

Introduction
It is now common knowledge that Zimbabwe is going through serious economic challenges characterized by hyperinflation. Politically the country is isolated from the international community. This means that friends are few and help is scarce when it is needed most. The negative impact is so evident in the breakdown of the basic infrastructure. Water systems have ceased to function especially in the capital city, Harare. the much publicized cholera out break is partly as a direct result of the breakdown of water reticulation leading to poor living conditions for the people. There is nothing much to talk about regarding the health delivery system. Zimbabwe had developed an admirable school system but it is now difficult to know how many of the rural schools will be able to open for the year because of lack of teachers. To make the whole situation even more desperate is the widespread hunger in the country. Agricultural unpreparedness , compounded by erratic rains leading to droughts has led the one time breadbasket of Southern Africa into hunger and famine.

The Zimbabwe dollar has virtually lost any value as a currency to the point that most goods and services are now sold for US dollars or South Africa Rand. Very few people can have access to these foreign currencies, and hence more suffering for the majority. The government has authorized some retailers to sell their goods in foreign currency. Most of these goods are imported which means that to get anything one must have foreign money. What has happened is that everyone is demanding US or Southern African Rand for goods and services. Nobody wants to have Zim dollar anymore because it is worthless.

Impact on the Church
In any economic downturn it so happens that the church faces untold challenges. The welfare of pastors depend on the church members who in turn are facing all these hardships. The church itself as a collective becomes helpless as it fails to help its members in these difficult times. Finance Boards of the church have pegged pastoral support in US dollars with the hope of trying to cushion them. But the members do not have such foreign currency and therefore there no support to talk about. Such a scenario is more so in the rural areas where almost everything is at stand still. many pastors will not be able to send their children to school especially because the remaining schools are charging school fees in foreign currency which they do not have.

To travel in their districts or circuits District Superintendents and Pastors obvious need fuel or gas which is sold in US dollars. Pastors cannot visit their church members even in critical times for lack of transport. Public transport is now paid in foreign currency. It is indeed a tragic story for the church. When i call for cabinet to meet- and we must indeed meet to put up strategies of how to resolve some of these challenges- I have no idea how many District Superintendents might be able to make it because transport hurdles.

Hospitals
The major challenge which our church hospitals are facing is the migration of nurses to neighboring countries in search of ways and means to survive. To retain them one must be ready to pay them what is called retention allowance in foreign currency which the church does not have. Shortage or even total lack of drugs makes the whole situation gloomy.

Congregations
Although the people continue to do their best by working and continuing to be creative in meeting the challenges, they have indeed reached breaking point. Even as I write I cannot contemplate how these congregations can support their pastors and themselves as well.

People are just surviving by the day through the grace of God. the situation on the ground defies any attempt to plan because circumstances change so fast that we have learned to live on a daily basis.

Means of Survival
For the few fortunate ones, sons, daughter and relatives who have left the country and are working in the neighboring countries send some back home and this has helped in some little way. Others engage in cross boarder trade and bring home some foreign currency. In most cases these are few compared to the majority who have nowhere to turn to.

For the church some partners have done tremendous job of doing all they could in helping in one way or the other. The help could be a consignment of drugs to the hospital, cholera kits etc or it could be few dollars to help the so many pastors who are scrambling just to survive with their families.

Conclusion
The year 2009 is not showing any clear signs of being different at all. The problems are increasing by the day. we hope that if the rains continue maybe some people will be able to harvest a little but it is too early to tell whether the country will be spared from another drought. The unfailing source of our Hope is that we have Jesus Christ who promised never to leave the faithful alone. As I write this brief knowing that you servant of God have requested for it, I am feel up;lifted in Hope.

Thank you

Grace and Peace

Bishop Nhiwatiwa

Resident bishop-Zimbabwe Episcopal Area.

Rev LLoyd T Nyarota

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Zimbabwe Episcopal Area
Area Projects and Communications coordinator
No 9- second street

P. O.Box 666
Mutare
Zimbabwe
Phone: +263-20-64043/ 62733
Cell: +263-912-891800/ 11-645715
Fax:+263-20-65714
e-mail: Lnyarota@yahoo.com

website: http://www.7villages.com/RevLloydNyarota

"In Partnership to achieve. Discipleship. Church Development and Christian Unity"