| THE Archbishop of York is calling for the establishment of a new civil-rights movement in Britain to bring an end to the brutalisation of the people of Zimbabwe.
Dr Sentamu, who last year cut up his clerical collar on television in protest at President Mugabe’s regime, said on Tuesday: “I am inviting people to work with me for the restoration of Zimbabwe, in order that peace, prosperity, and the rule of law are restored to that once great and prosperous land of hope for Africa.” He described the country as “a wasteland of oppression, poverty, and disease”.
A special service for the people of Zimbabwe, called Restore-Zim, is to take place at mid-day on Friday 11 July at St Margaret’s, Westminster. Emphasising that this was not a party-political venture, Dr Sentamu said: “People from Britain have a proud record of making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
“Whether it be the anti-apartheid movement, the ending of Ian Smith’s UDI, the Jubilee debt campaign, or countless other campaigns, British men and women have shown how their compassion and outrage over injustice can be channelled positively into bringing about new life and new hope.”
Describing it as “an opportunity for civil society to engage”, the Archbishop urged: “Restoration will require prayer, money, and support. I am asking people to commit to offering what they can in any and all of these categories.”
He had earlier called on the British Government to withdraw diplomatic rights by closing its High Commission in Harare, and for various embassies to apply the same sanction. He told the BBC: “People can actually create a blockade. . . It is his [Mugabe’s] embassies that he has been using for money-laundering.”
Other church leaders were renewing their calls for outside intervention in Zimbabwe, after the re-election of President Mugabe in last week’s unopposed presidential run-off.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on the African Union not to recognise President Mugabe, who has boasted that only God can remove him from power. The Archbishop said there was “a very good argument” for sending an international force into Zimbabwe, in which the African Union should play a leading part.
Roman Catholic bishops were unequivocal in their opposition to President Mugabe’s continued rule. The RC bishops in Southern Africa called for a consensus model of government involving all Zimbabweans. They said that a “winner takes all” solution would reward the ruling party for its atrocities.
They warned that the barbarism was being documented, and said: “Mr Mugabe’s actions and those of his generals, their wives, his thug supporters, and the so-called ‘war veterans’ are offensive in the eyes of God. Judgement awaits.”
They also expressed fears that, unless there was a unified effort from the international community, under the leadership of Southern African countries, “the hopeless situation of violence, famine, and uncertainty will result in a vast humanitarian crisis that will engulf the whole Southern African region.”
The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA), a partner of Christian Aid, said that most humanitarian agencies were adopting an attitude of “wait and see”in the country. “We are hoping that church and civil society leaders may meet quite soon to discuss the situation,” said the ZCA’s spokesman, Useni Sibanda.
The UN and humanitarian agencies had been unable to carry out their mandates effectively during the election period. “In the past three months, we have been prevented from serving the people and exposing the scandal of poverty,” he said.
“The fear factor has paralysed the nation, and very few have been bold enough to experience, witness, and publicly reveal the barbaric and anarchic violence that young men
in the employ of Zanu-PF have meted out to their fellow citizens.”
|
back to News
previous story
|
next story 
