Pray for our nation

IT IS clear that our country is deeply divided and now stands at a moral, political and economic crossroad.

At such a time, we need a Parliament that demonstrates strong ethical leadership and exercises non-partisan oversight over the executive.

We therefore urge all the members of Parliament to vote according to their conscience and to consider the common good, and not partisan interests, factional royalties and their political survival when they vote in the pending motion of no confidence.

We wish to state our view that, as is the case in other countries, a conscience vote or free vote should be allowed to happen in Parliament in matters that are critical for the common good and the building of an accountable state.

It is in the interest of the poor that the country grows into a nation where the electorate can hold members of Parliament to account and where members of Parliament can hold the president and the ministers to account.

Allowing for a conscience vote in parliament can reduce the current accountability deficit and contribute to the development of this vision.

As the marches against the president continue, we call on the leaders of the ANC to stop and listen with humility to the issues and concerns raised by the people who march against the president.

They should not be quick to dismiss genuine calls for executive accountability as racism and as an attack on radical economic transformation.

We also reiterate the call made last week by Archbishop Brislin on behalf of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference: “We respectfully remind President Jacob Zuma that he has been elected to serve all South Africans.

“It appears that he has lost the confidence of many of his own closest colleagues, as well as that of numerous civil society organisations.

“He should earnestly reconsider his position, and not be afraid to act with courage and humility in the nation’s best interests.”

We urge all Christians and people of goodwill to place our agonies and our fears as a nation at the foot of the cross so that, through the grace of the risen Christ, our country opens up to experience God’s healing, higher levels of ethical leadership and genuine economic freedom. Bishop Abel Gabuza Catholic Bishops