Mugabe accused of using prayer event to entrench oppressive rule
-20/06/06
Controversi
Mugabe accused of using prayer event to entrench oppressive rule
-20/06/06
Controversial President Mugabeís ruling party in Zimbabwe has cancelled the annual National Day of Prayer, held annually on 25 May, and replaced it with a ìmore patrioticî Zimbabwe Day of Prayer to be marked on 25 June ñ reports The Standard newspaper from Harare.
The Zimbabwean authorities say that there is nothing sinister about the change, and that it is purely an ìadministrative developmentî.
But critics say that Mr Mugabe is using religious commitment and fervour to entrench his authoritarian regime.
The new ëday of prayerí was proposed after pro-Zanu PF church leaders met with officials from the ruling party’s commissariat and information departments recently, claims the newspaper.
What is seen as a move to further constrain the churches comes amid growing fears in the ruling party that some sections of the Christian community have become far too vocal against the government’s policies ñ which they say abuse the poor and undermine basic human rights.
The Rev Andrew Muchechetere is reported as saying that on 25 June 2006 the state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company, ZUPCO, would ferry passengers from ìthe usual pick-up pointsî they would have used on 25 May. He is one of the organisers.
Outspoken Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo has recently said that some in the churches have been corrupted by their associations with the state, and are now fatally compromised in their relations with Mr Mugabe and his allies ñ who have been roundly condemned by the international community and the United Nations for their slum clearance policies.
On 25 June ruling party supporters and church leaders who back Zanu PF are now expected to gather at Glamis Stadium in Harare for the Zimbabwe Day of Prayer.
The Standard says that according to an internal memo, circulating among pro-government religious organisations, President Robert Mugabe will attend the prayers and address the gathering.
Since 1998, the National Day of Prayer has been held under the stewardship of the Intercessors for Zimbabwe, led by the Rev John Chimbambo.
One cleric who is critical of the regime said that ìit looks like people will be worshipping Mugabe and not Godî, and the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, has attacked the outcome of the visit to State House led by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.
Recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, intervened to support the suspension of a pro-Mugabe Anglican bishop in Zimbabwe who has faced unresolved criminal charges and accusations of intimidating church members. He has no official jurisdiction in the matter, however.
It is alleged by some that the CIO, the Zimbabwe government intelligence organisation, has many infiltrators among the clergy of the churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: Pro-Mugabe Anglican bishop faces suspension 15/06/06; Zimbabwe church leaders debate how to handle Mugabe; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Bishop calls for cricket boycott; Southern Africa remains gripped by food crisis says Christian Aid; Mugabe bureaucracy blocks vital church aid to destitute; Mugabe branded ‘shameless’ over attempt to gatecrash Pope’s funeral]
Mugabe accused of using prayer event to entrench oppressive rule
-20/06/06
Controversial President Mugabeís ruling party in Zimbabwe has cancelled the annual National Day of Prayer, held annually on 25 May, and replaced it with a ìmore patrioticî Zimbabwe Day of Prayer to be marked on 25 June ñ reports The Standard newspaper from Harare.
The Zimbabwean authorities say that there is nothing sinister about the change, and that it is purely an ìadministrative developmentî.
But critics say that Mr Mugabe is using religious commitment and fervour to entrench his authoritarian regime.
The new ëday of prayerí was proposed after pro-Zanu PF church leaders met with officials from the ruling party’s commissariat and information departments recently, claims the newspaper.
What is seen as a move to further constrain the churches comes amid growing fears in the ruling party that some sections of the Christian community have become far too vocal against the government’s policies ñ which they say abuse the poor and undermine basic human rights.
The Rev Andrew Muchechetere is reported as saying that on 25 June 2006 the state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company, ZUPCO, would ferry passengers from ìthe usual pick-up pointsî they would have used on 25 May. He is one of the organisers.
Outspoken Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo has recently said that some in the churches have been corrupted by their associations with the state, and are now fatally compromised in their relations with Mr Mugabe and his allies ñ who have been roundly condemned by the international community and the United Nations for their slum clearance policies.
On 25 June ruling party supporters and church leaders who back Zanu PF are now expected to gather at Glamis Stadium in Harare for the Zimbabwe Day of Prayer.
The Standard says that according to an internal memo, circulating among pro-government religious organisations, President Robert Mugabe will attend the prayers and address the gathering.
Since 1998, the National Day of Prayer has been held under the stewardship of the Intercessors for Zimbabwe, led by the Rev John Chimbambo.
One cleric who is critical of the regime said that ìit looks like people will be worshipping Mugabe and not Godî, and the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, has attacked the outcome of the visit to State House led by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe.
Recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, intervened to support the suspension of a pro-Mugabe Anglican bishop in Zimbabwe who has faced unresolved criminal charges and accusations of intimidating church members. He has no official jurisdiction in the matter, however.
It is alleged by some that the CIO, the Zimbabwe government intelligence organisation, has many infiltrators among the clergy of the churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: Pro-Mugabe Anglican bishop faces suspension 15/06/06; Zimbabwe church leaders debate how to handle Mugabe; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Bishop calls for cricket boycott; Southern Africa remains gripped by food crisis says Christian Aid; Mugabe bureaucracy blocks vital church aid to destitute; Mugabe branded ‘shameless’ over attempt to gatecrash Pope’s funeral]