Zimbabwe election fly posters © Chris Kabwato/ Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa

International intervention is essential to protect the people of Zimbabwe as hopes for a legitimate election fade, ecumenical networks said this week.

In a joint statement, CIDSE, APRODEV and the Ecumenical Zimbabwe network - which are comprised of over 53 faith-based, development and humanitarian organisations - called on the international community to act "immediately to ensure ballots are not replaced by bullets".

'Direct intervention of an international, African led presence to guarantee security and the protection and safety of the people is necessary', said John Stewart, Director of NOVASC, a Zimbabwean human rights NGO.

'Militias have to be disarmed, disbanded, demobilised; the state security agencies must be reined in and kept under scrutiny, to prevent them continuing with their campaign of violence and terror and to prepare the processes of a return to the rule of law and extensive security sector reform', he added.

All three networks welcomed the UN Security Council's condemnation of 'the campaign of violence' against Zimbabwe's opposition party in the run-up to the scheduled June 27 run-off election.

The networks said the world has watched the electoral process unravel in Zimbabwe since the first round of elections took place at the end of March, adding that the June 21st withdrawal of the Movement for Democratic Change from the second round of the Presidential election must 'finally end the pretence of a democratic process.'

Read the full text of the statement.