Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe
-10/06/06
Many churche
Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe
-10/06/06
Many churches in Zimbabwe have lost credibility with the poor because some of their leaders are colluding with the Mugabe regime and they are capitulating to corruption.
That is the view of outspoken Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo in a recent SW Radio Africa interview with Violet Gonda, reports Independent Catholic News.
ìThe Church has let down the people very, very greatly by siding with Mugabe ? hook, line and sinker,î declared Ncube, who has been accused of spouting ëpoisoní and ëtreasoní by the regime for whose non-violent removal he has called.
Speaking on the ëHot Seatí programme, the Archbishop accused President Robert Mugabe of employing ìdivide and rule tacticsî to silence opposition from within the churches ñ including the use of bribes directed towards senior clergy.
He said that some priests were even spying for the government in order to preserve their own security and influence, or as a result of threats of violence.
On the question of bribery, the Catholic prelate declared: ìI can confirm that a lot of money is being given to clerics and farms have been given to senior clerics, to get them to the government side in such a way that when we meet as clergy we can no longer be united.
Archbishop Ncube said he would not name specific people receiving bribes, in order to avoid making the issue ìnasty and very personalî. However he mentioned a bishop and a pastor who were ìwell knownî for having accepted confiscated farms.
He claimed that he was one of those who had been offered a farm. But he said: “I am a respectable Catholic, so I refused. I knew they wanted to silence me because I am critical of the land reform programme, which is not transparent.”
Ncube said Mugabe is aware of the power of the churches in Zimbabwe and has divided and bribed some of the leaders to the extent that “we have become unfaithful to our calling. We as churchmen are supposed to stand with the poor to defend the poor ñ and we have forgotten our mission.”
The Archbishop has also been publicly critical of the governments ëclear out rubbishí urban demolition programme against slum dwellers and informal businesses ñ which Mugabe claims is part of a ëredevelopmentí initiative.
Zimbabwe has been condemned for its abuses of human rights and its attacks on the poor by the United Nations, the churches worldwide, and the international community.
But President Mugabe says that all his opponents are ëimperialistí ñ including anti-apartheid Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The South African government of Thabo Mbeki has maintained what its supporters say is a ìdiplomaticî public silence on Zimbabwean abuses because of political and economic ties.
But the growing refugee crisis and criticism from the churches and human rights activists seems to be leading to a more critical stance.
[Also on Ekkesia: Zimbabwe kicks medical group out of displacement camp 24/05/06; Bulawayo churches defy Zimbabwe protest ban; 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]
Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe
-10/06/06
Many churches in Zimbabwe have lost credibility with the poor because some of their leaders are colluding with the Mugabe regime and they are capitulating to corruption.
That is the view of outspoken Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo in a recent SW Radio Africa interview with Violet Gonda, reports Independent Catholic News.
ìThe Church has let down the people very, very greatly by siding with Mugabe ? hook, line and sinker,î declared Ncube, who has been accused of spouting ëpoisoní and ëtreasoní by the regime for whose non-violent removal he has called.
Speaking on the ëHot Seatí programme, the Archbishop accused President Robert Mugabe of employing ìdivide and rule tacticsî to silence opposition from within the churches ñ including the use of bribes directed towards senior clergy.
He said that some priests were even spying for the government in order to preserve their own security and influence, or as a result of threats of violence.
On the question of bribery, the Catholic prelate declared: ìI can confirm that a lot of money is being given to clerics and farms have been given to senior clerics, to get them to the government side in such a way that when we meet as clergy we can no longer be united.
Archbishop Ncube said he would not name specific people receiving bribes, in order to avoid making the issue ìnasty and very personalî. However he mentioned a bishop and a pastor who were ìwell knownî for having accepted confiscated farms.
He claimed that he was one of those who had been offered a farm. But he said: “I am a respectable Catholic, so I refused. I knew they wanted to silence me because I am critical of the land reform programme, which is not transparent.”
Ncube said Mugabe is aware of the power of the churches in Zimbabwe and has divided and bribed some of the leaders to the extent that “we have become unfaithful to our calling. We as churchmen are supposed to stand with the poor to defend the poor ñ and we have forgotten our mission.”
The Archbishop has also been publicly critical of the governments ëclear out rubbishí urban demolition programme against slum dwellers and informal businesses ñ which Mugabe claims is part of a ëredevelopmentí initiative.
Zimbabwe has been condemned for its abuses of human rights and its attacks on the poor by the United Nations, the churches worldwide, and the international community.
But President Mugabe says that all his opponents are ëimperialistí ñ including anti-apartheid Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The South African government of Thabo Mbeki has maintained what its supporters say is a ìdiplomaticî public silence on Zimbabwean abuses because of political and economic ties.
But the growing refugee crisis and criticism from the churches and human rights activists seems to be leading to a more critical stance.
[Also on Ekkesia: Zimbabwe kicks medical group out of displacement camp 24/05/06; Bulawayo churches defy Zimbabwe protest ban; 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]