John Christie: Sadly, not all elections will be as free and fair as ours

I have recently returned from Zimbabwe, where I was privileged to meet a wide cross-section of society. Zimbabwe is not at peace, but needs to be.

The Church of Scotland has been asked to give a voice of support. We will work with Zimbabwean churches to explore possibilities that will enable them to become leaders of hope and reconciliation on the path to peace.

My visit left me with many impressions, from the beauty of the landscape to the vast African sky contrasting with the disappointment of seeing farmland lie fallow, as well as the work by the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa in areas of health and education.

During this visit, I came face to face with the human tragedy of Aids at a clinic. A nurse asked a woman who I assumed to be the mother of a toddler and baby if we could talk to her. It emerged that she was the children's grandmother. Both parents had died of Aids. The toddler had Aids and the baby was being tested on the day of my visit. The baby was diagnosed with Aids. It put the visit into perspective for me, as well as putting a value beyond price on Kirk help in fighting Aids.

I visited schools and met students who, every day before morning classes, had to walk one and a half miles to collect buckets of water. Each school was different but contributed to the wellbeing and progress of children who otherwise might not have had education.

Like Zimbabwe, Scotland has elections this year, but unlike Zimbabweans, we are free to exercise our views and opinions without fear of arrest. The spectre of violence at past elections in Zimbabwe lingers, but people are starting to look towards peace and reconciliation. They want an atmosphere where people can speak out freely. Is it too much to ask for, the promise of a better future?

• The Rt Rev John Christie is Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.