An Introduction to ZPT

In the last decade the people of Zimbabwe have been staggering beneath a yoke of despair. Around 90% of adults are out of work. The population has faced poverty, successive droughts, and economic disaster. In July 2008 hyperinflation resulted in the total collapse of the Zimbabwean currency and there has been only limited recovery since.

These conditions have been aggravated by an AIDS pandemic which has left an estimated one in four children without their parents. The once thriving agricultural sector has been devastated by a chaotic and violent land reform programme. Sadly food now has to be imported into the country. Yet despite all these setbacks the Zimbabwean people demonstrate a resilience and openness to those who would come alongside them in partnership and encourage them in rebuilding and sharing the gospel.

A number of the present trustees made visits to the country from 2008 onwards to engage in teaching and training Pastors and church leaders and during these visits were able to observe the desperate plight of many of the Lord’s people. As a result of these visits the Zimbabwe Partnership Trust was established in 2011 and is now a registered charity – registration number 1164769. The Trust was set up to send assistance to our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe in response to this crisis, and encourages the churches in the UK to support us in achieving the following objectives:

To support in their ministry and mission

• Providing preachers workshops, theological teaching and training.
• Providing bibles and study books.
• Supporting the Theological College of Zimbabwe.

To relieve poverty among churches and their communitiesIn the short term by

• Supporting feeding programmes.
• In the longer term by assisting with livelihood projects and sustainable agriculture schemes.
• Funding the rescue and care of orphans and other vulnerable children.

We have established contact with a number of churches and church leaders in Zimbabwe through whom we work in order to fulfil these objectives and regular visits are made by Trustees to engage in teaching and training Pastors and church leaders, as well as conducting seminars for women in the churches. We also make visits to the various humanitarian aid programmes we support to encourage those who lead these and those who benefit from them.

We are encouraged to see first-hand the wonderful way in which the Zimbabwean Christians work together in meeting the desperate needs of their communities.

The Trust has adopted the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, but is willing to work with all Bible-believing churches in Zimbabwe. The Trust carries out its work in partnership with Christian groups and agencies in Zimbabwe, the UK and other countries.