Former Moderator, Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, said the Church’s World Mission Council was “deeply disturbed” by the situation in the southern African country, which has seen a brutal crackdown on people protesting against a 150 per cent rise in fuel prices.
Action by the police and army followed a breakdown in law and order in Harare and Bulawayo two weeks ago which led to some looting and rioting.
Twelve people were shot dead by police while many more were assaulted amid the worst violence seen in Zimbabwe in ten years.
Observers say there is now a “warlike feeling in the air” in parts of the land-locked country, which borders Zambia.
The Council of Churches in Zambia is a partner of the Church of Scotland.
It, along with other civil groups, has urged the Zimbabwean government to stop the persecution of citizens and called on the international community to intervene.
The statement is fully endorsed by the Church of Scotland, which has urged the Scottish and UK Governments to make representations.
It said: “Civil society in Zambia remains deeply concerned with the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe and the reported human rights violations against citizens of the state.
“As civil rights groups, we are particularly concerned about the reported beatings, arrest and killings of unarmed citizens who were peacefully demonstrating against the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe.
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