Deteriorating economic and political conditions in Zimbabwe have prompted a call from the country's Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace urging the government to "immediately set priorities that put the people first before anything else."
The commission cited the collapse of the health and educational systems while noting that manufacturing and mining have become "paralyzed" as evidence that Harare must urgently pay attention to the crisis to better the lives of Zimbabweans.
Commission National Director Alois Chaumba told reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyelye of VOA's Studio 7 For Zimbabwe that the panel issued the message Sunday hoping that by adding its voice to a chorus of groups nationwide it might spur Harare to action.