10/19/2019 Zimbabwe (International Christian Concern) – For the last several years, Zimbabwe has endured a dire political-economic stagnation. Little forward progress has been made in building up the nation’s economy or stabilizing its political structure. In light of this ongoing crisis, the country’s clergy have proposed a means to a possible solution.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD), an overhead term for a confederation of smaller organizations, has collectively proposed a national “Sabbath.” Unlike the weekly day of rest traditionally recognized by Christianity, this “Sabbath” will be one to span at least seven years and the entire breadth of the nation. It will serve as a hiatus for any form of internal activity that would serve to disrupt or divide the culture as a whole, most notably local and national elections and their constituent political competition.

This Sabbath will serve as a time to foster internal development. Divides along cultural and ethnic lines will ideally be smoothed over, and through economic and governmental policy reform, so too will be the stagnant economic situation. The ZHOCD is still awaiting an official response from both the government and a number of Zimbabwean political parties they also shared their Sabbath idea with as of Monday, October 14.

Some negative reactions have surfaced in the meantime via social media and other speech patterns. If anything, such reactions indicate a lack of desire to open consideration of the Sabbath proposal. Please be in prayer Zimbabwe in this time of difficulty and stagnation.

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].