Out for the Count: Democracy in Zimbabwe
Report Cover Photo: Archbishop Pius Ncube listens to an 83 year-old woman reporting denial of access to food in Insiza District
Two teams of Church observers from South Africa entered Zimbabwe ahead of the Election 2005, to observe the election process and also in order to absorb life of ordinary Zimbabweans. The first, pre-election group consisted of four ordained priests, a church youth worker and a university professor. A seventh priest was denied entry to the country. This group had intensive interviews with key informants and travelled in Harare, Bulawayo and surrounding rural areas, attending rallies and meeting ordinary Zimbabweans.
The second group of 20 South Africans from KwaZulu Natal church organisations covered the election period, arriving two weeks prior to the election and remaining until April. Many had monitored elections in Zimbabwe before. They were billeted mainly in rural areas around the country, with local hosts.
Both groups were concerned at the lack of democratic space and high levels of depression, fear and apathy. It was therefore felt fitting to include in this report a summary of the role played by the Church in South Africa during its liberation. The final section of the report assesses the “Right to resist” of Zimbabwean churches.
![PASSOP, an NGO supporting Zimbabweans in De Doorns, is banned from entering the IDP camp, and here holds a meeting with them through the fence! They deliver “the Zimbabwean” newspaper – news from home read avidly. [30 May 2010]](http://solidaritypeacetrust.org/wp-content/gallery/a-fractured-nation/image113.jpg "PASSOP, an NGO supporting Zimbabweans in De Doorns, is banned from entering the IDP camp, and here holds a meeting with them through the fence! They deliver “the Zimbabwean” newspaper – news from home read avidly. [30 May 2010]")