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Financial Gazette (Harare)

Zimbabwe: Churches Break Silence On Violence, Results Delay

Clemence Manyukwe And Njabulo Ncube

23 April 2008

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Harare — CHURCHES have issued their strongest criticism yet of the political violence sweeping the country, calling for international intervention to prevent Zimbabwe from sliding into anarchy.

Church leaders spoke as soldiers imposed an unofficial curfew in urban areas and a post-election crackdown continued in the countryside.

A joint statement from Zimbabwe's main church groups deplored what it called "organised violence" and demanded the immediate release of presidential election results held four weeks ago to ease rising tensions.

The delays in the release of the results came after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) gave in to pressure from ZANU-PF by accepting partial recounts in 23 constituencies, which might overturn the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) victory in the House of Assembly.

Since then, political temperatures have heated up amid reports of violence, torture and intimidation in some parts of the country.

Feeling insecure about the sudden turn of events, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has shifted his base to Botswana where he is aggressively pushing regional and international leaders to take stern action against President Robert Mugabe's government, which has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

A strongly worded statement issued by the churches this week is likely to pile pressure on ZEC, whose autonomy is now under serious test.

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe said their members had reported the setting up of bases by war veterans and ZANU-PF youths from where acts of violence are being committed.

In a statement, the church leaders urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to intervene to avoid what they called "genocide".

"People are being abducted, tortured and humiliated by being asked to repeat slogans of the political party they are alleged not to support, ordered to attend mass meetings where they are told they voted for the wrong candidate and (that they) should never repeat it in the run-off election for president, and in some cases people are being murdered," the church leaders said.

The churches said the delay in the release of the results had created "uncertainty, anxiety and frustration". They want the ZEC to "release the true results of the presidential poll without further delay".

Leaders have appealed to SADC, the AU and the UN "to work towards arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe".

And they issued a stark warning: "We warn the world that if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be witnessing genocide..."

Responding to the church's call for international intervention, Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told The Financial Gazette there was no crisis in the country to warrant any multilateral action.

Despite government denials, reports of violence are increasing.

Speaking on the delay in the release of full election results, Zuma told Reuters: "It's not acceptable. It's not helping the Zimbabwean people who have gone out to elect the kind of party and presidential candidate they want, exercising their constitutional right."

Zuma added: "I imagine that the leaders in Africa should really move in to unlock this logjam.

"Concretely, this means African countries should identify some people to go in there, probably talk to both parties, call them and ask them what the problem is, as well as the electoral commission".

Yesterday, he was quoted by the BBC as saying the results delay was not President Robert Mugabe's fault, but ZEC's.

Both ZANU-PF and MDC said yesterday they would welcome the proposed new ANC initiative.

"If the ANC makes an initiative, we will talk to them as a liberation movement," said Bright Matonga, deputy information minister. "The ANC, including President Mbeki, are our brothers and sisters in the liberation movement. We have no problem in talking to the ANC."

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the Morgan Tsvangirai camp of the MDC, said his party was open to any effort to convince President Mugabe and ZANU-PF to relinquish power.

"Any effort is welcome. If the ANC now suggests a parallel process, it might mean that they are not happy with the way President Mbeki is mediating in the Zimbabwean crisis," said Chamisa. "We do appreciate the seriousness the members of the ANC are putting into the crisis, which is now beyond SADC alone."

Last week, Tsvangirai caused a stir when he said "Mbeki should be relieved of his duties" as mediator. But SADC this week endorsed Mbeki's mediation effort in the face of mounting criticism of his role from Western governments, the opposition and from his own party.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai yesterday took his diplomatic offensive to Mozambique, where he was to meet President Armando Guebuza.

Tsvangirai has insisted that he won the presidential election, and his on-going campaign is designed to convince African leaders to recognise him as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe, and to persuade President Mugabe to step aside and allow the MDC to form a new government.

Tsvangirai has also demanded that President Mugabe remove ZANU-PF militia and state security agents he says are beating up opposition supporters, and allow humanitarian agencies to provide medicine, food, clothing and shelter to hundreds of people his party says have been displaced as a result of the violence.

Party officials say Tsvangirai has taken up temporary residence in neighbouring Botswana, because of security concerns.

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