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Dr Goo-dwill Shana (GS) to find out more on their visit

FN: You were recently on a tour of the Sadc region. Could you appraise the nation on your mission?   
GS: Our mission basically had a fourfold intention. First it was to go and get an external perspective of what is going on. Internally, we had an idea of the issues that are going on but since the involvement of Sadc as a facilitator, it became important to get the facilitator perspective or at least a regional perspective.
When the parties were negotiating for the GPA, we had the privilege of relating to the facilitator, President Mbeki through the South African Embassy and the advisor to the presidency Rev Chikane. The Sadc regional perspective would help make the appropriate interventions and also understand what was going on in Zimbabwe from a different point of view. The second element was to seek Sadc confirmation and affirmation about their presence in Zimbabwe for elections. You know the President (Mugabe) is calling for elections this year and others are calling for elections following the GPA process.
As the church we are saying whenever the elections are held, we want to get an assurance that Sadc would be present. Wherever and whenever elections are held, what we want is for Sadc (monitors) to come earlier. We have said there are some times when the interventions of Sadc are not possible. There are issues that are Zimbabwean and can be resolved by Zimbabweans, where we know that external forces may not quite understand what is going or may not be available all the time to deal with issues as they arise.
This is not the first time that we have offered ourselves as the church. In fact we were one of the few if not the only organisation that maintained contact with the negotiators, facilitator and were even invited by president Thabo Mbeki for discussions prior to 2008 and after, in which we suggested a government of national unity. We thought we needed to learn to talk as Zimbabweans, we were too divided, too polarised and when it finally happened we elated. We said Zimbabweans should learn to live with each other, to hold dialogue and engage each other.
I think despite its misgivings the inclusive Government helped us to stabilise, live with each, to learn each other and no longer see each other as demons. 
Thirdly, we are headed for a new horizon a watershed, a process in our journey as a nation. There are three watershed items that we are looking at, if the GPA roadmap is followed. These are the constitution making process, referendum and the elections. All those processes require a high degree of engagement dialogue and transformation and the church is fully behind that process.
Finally, the visit was a way of asking Sadc to keep us informed because of late we have not been getting updates on Sadc perspectives. That is what made us go and look for them because previously we used to get updates. The church has never been heard, intimate or subvert the process.  
FN: You want Sadc monitors to be in the country six months before the elections if free and fair elections are to prevail. What is wrong with the current single month or so presence of monitors? Why calling for longer Sadc presence, what has gone wrong?
GS: Because we don’t want another contested election. What we have is not normal. The Government we have is abnormal. What we want as a church is just to go back to being normal. What we have now is not a normal process. So we thought we would play a part whenever the elections are held as according to our President or later according to the GPA process. We must be assured of Sadc presence earlier than the 14 days Sadc guideline.
Sadc has to ensure there is peace and a credibility and authenticated process. What we did not want is a repeat of 2008, we want to move on. We don’t want our country to be like an asthma or flu that is in Sadc, no. We believe Zimbabwe should be treated as a special project of Sadc and should not be just dealt with within the Sadc guidelines. We have a unique position of having a coalition government. Here there are many dynamics at play. We did not ask Sadc to put pressure on President Mugabe as that will be both foolish and naïve because the Sadc grouping is made up Heads of States and government and that includes our own Government.
President Mugabe happens to be part of them and is well looked upon by the region and it would not work to turn the region against him. We never thought that would be seen as intention to effect regime change or to pressure President Mugabe. In fact if we wanted to pressurise the President we would do something through the ranks like sending a delegation to him or make noise inside here.
FN: Whom did you visit and why?
GS: We went to Mozambique, South Africa and then Botswana. We visited South Africa as it is the facilitator and to Botswana particularly because they are the Sadc secretariat and to Mozambique as an ally. We started with Mozambique as an ally before we even went to South Africa. One of our approaches was to always approach the churches in those countries so that we know what they are thinking and that they would direct us to right authorities.  
FN: What is the position of HOCD Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe on the impending elections?
GS: You have to understand that this was the position of the Heads of Christian Denominations. I saw the paper only mentions the EFZ. EFZ is just a part of the HOCD, which is made up Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s Conference and Zimbabwe Council of Churches.
We thought GPA was an agreed position and that is what we were following. I think it is critical to clarify that because people will think the Evangelical Fellowship is spearheading this. Back to your question, our interactions in Sadc were premised on that GPA is an agreed process. However, we said to ourselves let us follow the GPA process but should there be elections in 2012 a position according to the President, we need to be ready. If that happens the church needs to be sure that the process is credible and clear and will not lead us to a contest outcome.
FN: Your position presented to Sadc seems to have taken MDC party positions as basis for denial of elections. Is this a coincidence that your position is the same as the one that has been taken by the West against Zanu-PF?
GS: Let me explain that our position is probably different if you read the paper. Only after when the nation has accepted the new constitution only can we look at reforms. If I understand the MDC-T position, says let us have the reforms now. Our position is not like that, it says reforms must be premised on the outcome of the constitution.
Our position says we will look at anything that needs to be reformed after the constitution. It maybe necessary to do so if the constitution provides for it. Our position says lets do the constitution and the constitution will take care of everything.
For us it is duplication, it’s a waste. Why not wait for the process, do our constitution and then see what people have said. We have tried to remain non-partisan. I represent the church and the church is a collection of political parties. When you have parties you cease to have the power to bring the people together. The church is a collection of parties.
FN: There is no mention of sanctions in your paper (a Zanu-PF position in the GPA). Why are you silent on the issue of sanctions?
GS: What we have always said is that in terms of GPA we want all positions fulfilled. And those positions include reforms, sanctions and whatever. We want all those things agreed and fulfilled. If you talk about reforms in sanctions we will have to talk about reforms in other areas. But again, we are always caught in an enviable position.
FN: You also said Zimbabwe needs a new voter’s roll. What have you seen in the current voters’ roll that needs changing?
GS: We actually haven’t seen anything but we a going by what the authorities (others) have said.
But even if they have not said so certainly it should be looked at because it has been a contested area in the previous elections.  It has been a contentious issue and we want to remove all areas of contention.
Is it regime change to make a request to look at the voters’ roll, is it unZimbabwean? Even if the church is to say we want the voter’s roll looked at out of the blue why should it be looked at, why should it be viewed as regime change?
FN: The issue of homosexuality or the so-called gay rights is a particularly nagging one, what is your position on this issue?
GS: Our position as the church in Zimbabwe is very clear, we don’t subscribe and will never subscribe to homosexuality in any form or fashion. Our position has remained the same and we have no misgivings over that. That has no room in Zimbabwe.
FN: Did this mission have the blessing of all the members of the organisation? Why is it that some of your members are denying knowledge of the Sadc mission?
GS: Of course they would no everything but we have periodically come to them to say this is what we are doing. Precisely because of confidentiality we could not tell them everything.
We felt reporting during the meetings would betray confidentiality of the people involved. I think you can’t be involved in political processes and be shouting at the same time. Politicians sometimes trust you with positions that are delicate. What I think you would want is accountability and I have been accountable. All that we are doing has the consent of the church. Certainly yes otherwise I should have been censored by now.