The President of Zimbabwe His Excellency, Robert Gabriel Mugabe Private Bag 7700, Causeway Harare, Zimbabwe
February 16th, 2002
Dear Mr. President:
As a church leader in Zimbabwe, I believe I have a moral obligation to address you and I choose an open letter, since what I say is obvious to anyone who cares to look.
Mr. President, I am horrified that I find the person who holds the most honoured position in our country condoning:
- the trampling upon our constitution
- the suppressing of fundamental freedoms and human rights
- the violence that supports Zanu PF interests
- the lies and deception in the State media
- the recently enacted oppressive legislation
- the selective enforcement of the rule of law
- the spread of injustice and corruption
- the hypocrisy with respect to property rights
- the violent attacks upon opposition Members of Parliament
- the threatening of our judges
- the fuelling of racial hatred
- the widespread intimidation of the electorate
No democratic country can tolerate any of these evils and remain a democracy and no country, with a sense of morality, can ignore such abuses without violating its conscience (Jeremiah 6:13-15).
I believe, Mr. President, that you have polluted your commission by abusing the authority entrusted to you by God and the Zimbabwean people (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; Psalm 82:1-5; Proverbs 24:23-25; Isaiah 10:1-3; Romans 13:3).
I believe that, as a Christian minister, ordained by God, I have an ethical duty to denounce any of our national leaders who embrace a path that is immoral and oppressive (Exodus 5:1,2; 2 Samuel 12:7; Esther 7:6; Matthew 23:14; Mark 6:17,18; Luke 13:31,32).
I believe this prophetic responsibility necessitates rebuking wickedness without fear or compromise and I pray that the true church will not only refuse to tolerate such behaviour from you, but from any future President of our country.
Therefore, just as Nathan the prophet said to king David, "Thou art the man" (2 Samuel 12:7), and as Elijah told king Ahab that it was his sin that had brought trouble upon Israel (1 Kings 18:18), so I say to you, Mr. President, that you are fundamentally to blame for the destruction of and oppression in our nation. The Zimbabwean people are being crushed and I choose to identify myself with them and say in God's holy name, "Enough!" My prayer is for God to be merciful and deliver us from your oppressive hand and that once delivered, He would make us vigilant so we never again allow the framework for such oppression to be erected.
Finally, I am moved by God's grace and a clear conscience, knowing that it is far better to die while seeking to uphold truth and justice, than to live as a compromised coward under an oppressive ruler (Matthew 16:25). Here I stand, I can do no other. May God help us all. Amen!
Rev. Dr. Derek Carlsen, L.Th, M.Miss, D.Miss. P.O. Box 3348, Paulington, Mutare, Zimbabwe E-mail: [email protected]
Scripture verses as quoted on previous page:
Jeremiah 6:13-15
13 "Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. 14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, u2018Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the Lord.
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
18 "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.19 "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.20 "You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
2 Chronicles 19:5-7
5 Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,6 and said to the judges, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.7 "Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes."
Psalm 82:1-5
1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
Proverbs 24:23-25
23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. 24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.
Isaiah 10:1-3
"Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed
2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your glory?
Romans 13:3
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Exodus 5:1,2
Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: u2018Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' "2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go."
2 Samuel 12:7
7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: u2018I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Esther 7:6
6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
Matthew 23:14
14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
Mark 6:17,18
17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Luke 13:31,32
31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, u2018Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'
1 Kings 18:18
18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals".
Matthew 16:25
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it".
Scripture quotes taken from the NKJV, Thomas Nelson Inc., 1990
February 18, 2002
