Finally, we repeat what we said on a previous occasion: ‘...we call upon All those (Christians in particular) who hold special responsibilities in society, be it government, the business community or other spheres of influence, to exercise your duties according to the social teaching of the Church .....We cannot lead a double way of life, one for Sunday services in Church and another for our public tasks, be they political, economic, social or other kind. We are always called to be guided by our conscience and to live our Christian faith as an integral part of our lives’ (ZCBC, Lenten Pastoral Letter, March 2003, Par.7:3) As always our prayer for you is PEACE BE WITH YOU. +Mt. Rev. Robert C. Ndlovu of Harare +Mt. Rev. Pius Alec M. Ncube of Bulawayo +Rt. Rev. Michael D. Bhasera of Masvingo (ZCBC President) +Rt. Rev. Alexio Churu Muchabaiwa of Mutare +Rt. Rev. Angel Floro of Gokwe +Rt. Rev. Patrick M. Mutume, Auxiliary Bishop of Mutare Very Rev. Fr. Alphonse Mapfumo - Administrator of Gweru Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Jonga - Administrator of Chinhoyi Very Rev. Fr. Albert Serrano, SMI - Administrator of Hwange Statement from the Women’s Coalition Condemns Operation Murambatsvina/ Restore Order The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe is a network of women’s organisations and activists whose aim is to work for the full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms by women and men in Zimbabwe. The Women’s Coalition notes with grave concern the effects of Operation Murambatsvina/ Restore Order on people’s lives and rights particularly of women and children. According to the United Nations over a million people were affected in that they lost their sources of income or their shelters were pulled down. People’s homes, vending stalls, goods and property worth millions of dollars have been and are still being destroyed. Sadly, women being the most disadvantaged economically, socially and politically are suffering the most. Our society is characterised by gender inequalities, injustices, discrimination and exclusion such that women find themselves at the bottom of the social, economic and political structure. It is an undisputed fact that women are the majority of the poor in Zimbabwe and with the growing levels of urban poverty the trend of women’s poverty is manifest in urban areas. Women have limited access to the formal sector and therefore form the bulk of the 80% unemployed people in this country. Low-income levels have led to people occupying shanty houses. After all, who would want to live in a slum if they had access to a mansion. Zimbabwe is critically affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic where 60% of the infected are women. Nutritional security is poor as food shortages are rampant and food prices are extremely high. Operation Murambatsvina merely