ROMAN Catholic Church bishops have urged citizens not elect corrupt leaders when the country holds its general elections in the next few months.
Zimbabwe will hold its election before the end of August on a date yet to be proclaimed.
In a pastoral letter titled The Unjust Fetters, released on the Catholic Church’s 40-day lent season which is underway, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference urged citizens to choose leaders who care about the welfare of the generality of Zimbabweans.
“This election must bring to the highest office a leader who cares about the health of the excluded poor both young and old. This lent must give us time to think about the sort of leadership we want,” the bishops said.
“Can we choose from the candidates who will present themselves, people who will lead our country on the path of economic prosperity, justice and freedom for which our brothers and sisters gave their lives in the war of liberation?
“Can we choose those candidates who will be accountable to the people? Many countries in Africa have witnessed the shrinking of the democratic space through the increased use of force to silence dissenting voices.”
The call by the bishops comes at a time when various electoral stakeholders are urging government to put in place necessary electoral reforms to guarantee free and fair elections.
The bishops also bemoaned rampant corruption which they said had plunged the majority of the citizens into abject poverty.
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“What is most worrisome is that such rampant corruption by known players is not being nipped in the bud by the responsible offices, but is seemingly supported by those in power by their silence and inaction.”
