The initiative comes after a tray lunch was organised on June 17 by World YWCA and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) with panellists from the YWCA of Zimbabwe and the Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe who spoke of the pain and suffering currently facing Zimbabweans in the post election violence that has erupted.

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of this election, its fairness, its outcome and its aftermath", affirms the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia who moderated the tray lunch on June 17. "Events in the coming weeks will challenge the people of Zimbabwe and the world to find means of overcoming violence in the exercise of democracy, and the results will influence the future of the nation and the region", he added.

Prayers for justice, peace and healing in Zimbabwe were offered at a church service organised by the World YWCA and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) on April 28 at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. Midday prayers were also held outside the United Nations where World YWCA staff attended along with other ecumenical organisations.

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