Zimbabwe church leaders debate how to handle Mugabe
-02/06/06
As exiled Zimbabweans in
Zimbabwe church leaders debate how to handle Mugabe
-02/06/06
As exiled Zimbabweans in the UK ask the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, to intercede on their behalf in a dispute with a pro-Mugabe Anglican leader, senior church figures who met with the controversial president say the Christian community has a key role in tackling the country’s crisis.
But some human rights campaigners and other church organisations have accused the clergy concerned of failing to take Mr Mugabe to task for the predicament facing the troubled southern African nation, and of seeking dialogue at the expense of truth.
Zimbabwean Council of Churches president Peter Nemapare is reported as saying that he was “thrilled” by the meeting. One of the things discussed had been how the church could help to get “this country out of this muck which we are in, which has been imposed on us by outside forces”, he declared.
But according to Ecumenical News International, Jonah Gokova of the Zimbabwe National Pastors’ Conference said he wished to see a more forceful criticism of the policies of Mugabe’s administration. He noted that the post-meeting report seemed to echo some elements of the regimeís apologetic.
Other church leaders say privately that Mugabeís security forces have instilled fear among them, with any criticism of policies like the controversial urban regeneration (ëclear out trashí) policy being viewed as subversion.
And some argue that persuasion as well as protest is essential to make progress under pressure.
On the other hand, Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncabe and other Christians groups have been forcefully critical, and have called for Mugabeís removal, often facing sharp repression.
Meanwhile the Institute for War and Peace Reporting says that ten exiled Harare priests have met in Chester, UK, to find a way forward through the divisions in their diocese ñ and believe that former judge Dr John Sentamu, now Britainís first black archbishop, can help them.
The head of their diocese, Bishop Kunonga, was in 2005 brought to trial and accused of violations of canon and civil law, including incitement to murder his opponents. The trial broke down after the judge abruptly quit, throwing the proceedings in disarray.
ìWe all respect Archbishop John,î the Rev Paul Gwese, exiled rector of St Francis of Assisi in the Harare suburb of Glen Norah, is quoted as saying. Mr Gwese currently lives in Bradford.
He claimed that Bishop Kunonga ìwho since his controversial ordination in 2001 has terrorised Christians, and who is turning his diocese into a religious branch of Mugabeís ruling ZANU PF partyî needs to be confronted by a figure of integrity and authority.
He continued: ìBishop Kunonga feels free to do what he likes because he is a strong supporter of President Mugabe and ZANU PF,î but does not have the confidence of the clergy and lay members of the diocese.
Said the exiled priest: ìPeople want spiritual leaders who are accountable, but when you look at the way things are being done in Harare diocese, church politics is no different from secular politics.î
Zimbabwe church leaders debate how to handle Mugabe
-02/06/06
As exiled Zimbabweans in the UK ask the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, to intercede on their behalf in a dispute with a pro-Mugabe Anglican leader, senior church figures who met with the controversial president say the Christian community has a key role in tackling the country’s crisis.
But some human rights campaigners and other church organisations have accused the clergy concerned of failing to take Mr Mugabe to task for the predicament facing the troubled southern African nation, and of seeking dialogue at the expense of truth.
Zimbabwean Council of Churches president Peter Nemapare is reported as saying that he was “thrilled” by the meeting. One of the things discussed had been how the church could help to get “this country out of this muck which we are in, which has been imposed on us by outside forces”, he declared.
But according to Ecumenical News International, Jonah Gokova of the Zimbabwe National Pastors’ Conference said he wished to see a more forceful criticism of the policies of Mugabe’s administration. He noted that the post-meeting report seemed to echo some elements of the regimeís apologetic.
Other church leaders say privately that Mugabeís security forces have instilled fear among them, with any criticism of policies like the controversial urban regeneration (ëclear out trashí) policy being viewed as subversion.
And some argue that persuasion as well as protest is essential to make progress under pressure.
On the other hand, Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncabe and other Christians groups have been forcefully critical, and have called for Mugabeís removal, often facing sharp repression.
Meanwhile the Institute for War and Peace Reporting says that ten exiled Harare priests have met in Chester, UK, to find a way forward through the divisions in their diocese ñ and believe that former judge Dr John Sentamu, now Britainís first black archbishop, can help them.
The head of their diocese, Bishop Kunonga, was in 2005 brought to trial and accused of violations of canon and civil law, including incitement to murder his opponents. The trial broke down after the judge abruptly quit, throwing the proceedings in disarray.
ìWe all respect Archbishop John,î the Rev Paul Gwese, exiled rector of St Francis of Assisi in the Harare suburb of Glen Norah, is quoted as saying. Mr Gwese currently lives in Bradford.
He claimed that Bishop Kunonga ìwho since his controversial ordination in 2001 has terrorised Christians, and who is turning his diocese into a religious branch of Mugabeís ruling ZANU PF partyî needs to be confronted by a figure of integrity and authority.
He continued: ìBishop Kunonga feels free to do what he likes because he is a strong supporter of President Mugabe and ZANU PF,î but does not have the confidence of the clergy and lay members of the diocese.
Said the exiled priest: ìPeople want spiritual leaders who are accountable, but when you look at the way things are being done in Harare diocese, church politics is no different from secular politics.î