One
of the most poignant images of 2007/8 election violence is of an old woman
crying as a building nearby burns. It is a reminder that, like the proverbial
rat trap, elections affect all of us.
As
the nation is gearing up for elections next year, there is fear that chaos
could occur.
We
need elders to spearhead peace initiatives. From the Biblical times, elders
have been portrayed as a source of wisdom.
Elders
should be wary of taking sides. Their respect should not be up for sale to the
highest bidder as their influence is invaluable.
We
expect the politicians to lie and even promise Canaan as they hunt for votes.
The elders on the other hand, like the church, are held on a higher pedestal.