elections

Written by Fredrick Nzwili

Faith leaders in Zambia are calling for unity and peace as the southern African nation awaits the outcome of the presidential election held on 20 September. 



The election pitted Michael Sata, the main opposition and the leader of the Patriotic Front, against Rupiah Banda, the incumbent president and the leader of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy. 



Written by Jonathan Jansen

There is a nasty story doing the rounds about a dedicated teacher who died and arrived at the pearly gates, to be offered a tour of the various mansions in heaven.

She saw a block of the most beautiful mansions, and the archangel confirmed that the noisy guys in white coats were doctors living there because of their dedicated service to mankind. Around the corner the newly arrived teacher saw an even more impressive block of mansions.

Written by Linda Espenshade

Nigerians fear that April elections may spike already increased violence following on the heels of December bombings in the city of Jos and the subsequent killing of more than 200 people in Plateau State, where Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) staff and most of its program is based.

Plateau State is the area of Nigeria where the predominantly Muslim north meets the predominantly Christian south. Violent conflict in this area dates back to 2001 as the two groups compete for political power and control of land.

Written by Chad Umble

In the African country of Burundi, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and its local partners are supporting efforts to monitor voting and election conflicts, hoping to minimize violence during an already tense series of elections this summer.

Burundi’s election season started in late May and will continue through September, with at least five elections scheduled during those months. These elections are the first since all rebel groups laid down their weapons in 2008, officially ending the country’s 15-year civil war.