Christians all over the world were marking the death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. What is even more worrying are reports of police intimidation
of Anglicans in Zimbabwe.
Surely, for Mugabe to disown the Catholic Church in which he was born 87
years ago and accuse the Bishops of being liars and puppets of the West is
just unbelievable. Considering the fact that he was cared for by priests and
bishops as a young boy then as a political prisoner and during the
liberation struggle, Mugabe may soon have to apologise to his maker like he
is doing to SADC leaders after losing it.
“Even though I was born in this church (Catholic), their bishops are all
over me on a daily basis. They attack me and criticise me because they are
led by the whites who have their interests and agendas. They say I am an
oppressor because they are not happy that the country is being led by a
Blackman,” Mugabe was quoted as saying on Thursday 21st April 2011 (The
Daily News, 22/04/11). So he thinks he is not an oppressor? While he fought
for liberation, Mugabe has turned against his own people and that is what
the church is telling him but he does not want to hear the truth.
It is very sad that some Anglicans were reportedly worshipping in Africa
Unity Square and under trees, while other worshippers were appealing for
police protection after being ousted from the Anglican Cathedral in Harare
by a Mugabe supporter, Norbert Kunonga who was ex-communicated in 2008.
More shocking are reports that tens of thousands of Zimbabwe’s Anglicans are
being forced to worship in pubs, tents and private schools while their
churches stand empty, shuttered by the controversial Nobert Kunonga. All
Saints Church in Marondera Vestries were said to have been vandalised as
Kunonga people allegedly removed locks and put their own as they have turned
them into residential homes.
Some of the news reports are very frightening and distressing. For example
that there were strong suspicions that the 89-year old Anglican priest Jesca
Mandeya who was found dead in February was allegedly murdered by security
operatives (The Zimbabwe Mail, 19/02/11). Church members and Bishops are
living in fear of being killed as some of them continued to be followed by
suspected operatives of the spy agency.
Strangely, there are some similarities with developments in China where
dozens of Christians were arrested on Sunday 24th April when police
prevented an evangelical Protestant church from holding its Easter Sunday
service, as the state continued its attack on protests against one-party
rule (Telegraph.co.uk, 24/04/11).
Is this what Mugabe meant by looking East policy? Is Robert Mugabe now
playing politics with his maker?
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