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South African leader urges churches to monitor African politicians
2002-264-3
11/20/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
Speaking at an interfaith peace summit, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has invited Africa's religious leaders to play a 'key role' in monitoring efforts by political leaders seeking to bring peace to the strife-torn continent.
The mid-October summit brought together leaders from the major religions--Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and African traditional religions--from 21 African countries, according to summit coordinator Ishmael Noko of the Lutheran World Federation.
Zuma said that he hoped the summit would mark 'the beginning of a stronger and more effective intervention by the faith community in conflicts plaguing Africa.' He noted that the summit convened just three months after the launch of the African Union, an attempt by political leaders to abolish conflicts and wars. He also cited the New Partnership for Africa's Development, a major economic initiative aimed at lifting Africa out of poverty.
'It is important that you also play a key role in monitoring the performance of leaders to ensure that the undertakings they make are implemented for the common good of the continent and all its peoples,' Zuma told the religious leaders.
Noko noted the 'tragic irony' that religious beliefs had not only failed to prevent violence in Africa but sometimes had been manipulated to stoke violence. He said that the first responsibility of religious leaders 'must be to work together to prevent conflict in the name of religion.'
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