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July 31. ZHoCD comprises three main church bodies — the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.

Addressing journalists after meeting MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare yesterday, ZHoCD leader Dr Goodwill Shana said violence should be stopped. “We understand there have been reports of violence and it appears to be sporadic at the moment,” he said.

“Certainly, we have heard those reports and the church is concerned and wishes it doesn’t become a trend and it doesn’t gain any momentum.” Dr Shana said the meeting with Mr Tsvangirai was to ensure that Zimbabwe had a peaceful election and to hear his viewpoints.

“The churches in that configuration (Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations) are eager to ensure that we have a peaceful and credible election that doesn’t have disputed outcomes,” he said.

“We do not want a repeat of 2008 and, therefore, we have started a programme called Ecumenical Peace Observation Initiative, which seeks to observe the environment at this point in time and under-guard efforts by other stakeholders to ensure we have a peaceful and positive election outcome.”

Dr Shana said the meeting with Mr Tsvangirai follows a number of meetings with political principles and political parties in the lead up to the elections. “We have seen President Mugabe about those issues and we have also seen Mavambo Kusile Dawn and other smaller political parties,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Tsvangirai also met African Union election pre-observer team, which arrived in Zimbabwe last week to assess the political situation ahead of elections. Long Term Observer Co-ordinator Dr Chirambo Kondwani said he could not comment on the team’s discussion with Mr Tsvangirai.

Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said the meeting went well with his boss appreciating the early deployment of observers.

“He also gave them an update on the political update in the country beginning with the Constitutional ruling, which I cannot give details because it’s still sub judice, and other issues to deal with resolutions of Sadc the reforms that have not been implemented and the frustrations around issues of voter registration.

“The PM was at Market Square and Kuwadzana and is concerned with the long queues and that a lot of people are still finding it difficult to exercise their constitutional rights as voters.

“These are some the issues he raised to the observer mission,” said Mr Tamborinyoka.