Bulawayo churches defy Zimbabwe protest ban

-22/05/06

Church leaders in Zimbabweís sec


Bulawayo churches defy Zimbabwe protest ban

-22/05/06

Church leaders in Zimbabweís second city, Bulawayo, achieved a remarkable victory on Saturday, reports the countryís civic action group, Sokwanele. They kept to their original plan to stage a peaceful protest march and hold public prayers, despite what they described as ìsevere intimidationî from President Mugabeís security forces.

Many similar events planned by churches (under the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance) and civic groups in other parts of the country, to commemorate the anniversary of Operation Murambatsvina had to be called off. But pastors leading Churches in Bulawayo, with several hundred church members, decided to go ahead.

When the police withdrew permission for the procession, the churches responded with a strong public statement expressing their concern at the about-turn, which they said they viewed as ìan infringement of our freedom of worshipî.

They declared: ìIf police are to ban church services, which are exempt under the Public Order and Security Act, such a development will have serious implications on the Churchís right to carry out its God given mandate. Such action serves to clearly demonstrate the desperate position of the regime.î

The pastors also complained of the repeated interrogation of individual clerics and the intimidating tactics employed when they were subjected to a two-hour investigation by 30 senior security officers who were members of Mugabeís Joint Operations Command, comprising police, army and intelligence forces.

Two of their number, Pastors Lucky Moyo and Promise Maneda, were arrested by the police on 16 May 2006 and released later on the same day.

Christian protesters gathered at St Patrickís Church on 20 May and then walked together into the city in an orderly and peaceful procession. After singing ëNkosi Sikeleli Africaí, the continentís famous anthem, the procession moved on to singing hymns and choruses. Police and secret service men lined the route, but the day passed without any confrontation.

When the procession reached its destination at the Brethren in Christ Church in the city, those taking part settled down outside to listen to speeches, songs and a poem in commemoration of Operation Murambatsvina.

Their banners proclaimed ìChurches in Bulawayo: we still remember.î and ìStanding in solidarity with the poor.î A number of texts were also displayed focusing on biblical injunctions to defend the rights of the poor.

Fr Danisa Khumalo, a Roman Catholic priest, told the procession: ìWe shall never forget the smoke that rose from Killarneyî (one of the informal settlements razed to the ground by Mugabeís armed security units)Ö We shall never forget how the churches opened their doors and welcomed the homelessÖ We shall never forget the so-called transit campÖWe shall never forget the displaced people.î

He asked: ìAre we not all victims? Is Zimbabwe a better place because of the so-called clean-up operation?î

A message of solidarity was read out from outspoken Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, and also from the British-based evangelical charity Tearfund, which has a partnership agreement with local churches, providing support for their relief work among the displaced.

[Also on Ekklesia: Zimbabwe’s Churches to defy authorities on first anniversary of slum clearances; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Churches provide Zimbabwe relief and step up protests; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Zimbabwe is facing mass hunger, says archbishop; Southern Africa remains gripped by food crisis says Christian agency; Archbishop urges non-violent resistance in Zimbabwe; Mugabe bureaucracy blocks vital church aid to destitute; London protests against Zimbabwe oppression continue]


Bulawayo churches defy Zimbabwe protest ban

-22/05/06

Church leaders in Zimbabweís second city, Bulawayo, achieved a remarkable victory on Saturday, reports the countryís civic action group, Sokwanele. They kept to their original plan to stage a peaceful protest march and hold public prayers, despite what they described as ìsevere intimidationî from President Mugabeís security forces.

Many similar events planned by churches (under the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance) and civic groups in other parts of the country, to commemorate the anniversary of Operation Murambatsvina had to be called off. But pastors leading Churches in Bulawayo, with several hundred church members, decided to go ahead.

When the police withdrew permission for the procession, the churches responded with a strong public statement expressing their concern at the about-turn, which they said they viewed as ìan infringement of our freedom of worshipî.

They declared: ìIf police are to ban church services, which are exempt under the Public Order and Security Act, such a development will have serious implications on the Churchís right to carry out its God given mandate. Such action serves to clearly demonstrate the desperate position of the regime.î

The pastors also complained of the repeated interrogation of individual clerics and the intimidating tactics employed when they were subjected to a two-hour investigation by 30 senior security officers who were members of Mugabeís Joint Operations Command, comprising police, army and intelligence forces.

Two of their number, Pastors Lucky Moyo and Promise Maneda, were arrested by the police on 16 May 2006 and released later on the same day.

Christian protesters gathered at St Patrickís Church on 20 May and then walked together into the city in an orderly and peaceful procession. After singing ëNkosi Sikeleli Africaí, the continentís famous anthem, the procession moved on to singing hymns and choruses. Police and secret service men lined the route, but the day passed without any confrontation.

When the procession reached its destination at the Brethren in Christ Church in the city, those taking part settled down outside to listen to speeches, songs and a poem in commemoration of Operation Murambatsvina.

Their banners proclaimed ìChurches in Bulawayo: we still remember.î and ìStanding in solidarity with the poor.î A number of texts were also displayed focusing on biblical injunctions to defend the rights of the poor.

Fr Danisa Khumalo, a Roman Catholic priest, told the procession: ìWe shall never forget the smoke that rose from Killarneyî (one of the informal settlements razed to the ground by Mugabeís armed security units)Ö We shall never forget how the churches opened their doors and welcomed the homelessÖ We shall never forget the so-called transit campÖWe shall never forget the displaced people.î

He asked: ìAre we not all victims? Is Zimbabwe a better place because of the so-called clean-up operation?î

A message of solidarity was read out from outspoken Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, and also from the British-based evangelical charity Tearfund, which has a partnership agreement with local churches, providing support for their relief work among the displaced.

[Also on Ekklesia: Zimbabwe’s Churches to defy authorities on first anniversary of slum clearances; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Churches provide Zimbabwe relief and step up protests; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Zimbabwe is facing mass hunger, says archbishop; Southern Africa remains gripped by food crisis says Christian agency; Archbishop urges non-violent resistance in Zimbabwe; Mugabe bureaucracy blocks vital church aid to destitute; London protests against Zimbabwe oppression continue]