Statement on the Government of National Unity by the Bishops of the Church of the Province of Central Africa at the Consecration of the Right Reverend Cleophas Lunga as Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Matabeleland on the 1st Sunday of Lent 1st March 2009 at the Parish Church of St Columbus, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
We the Bishops of the Province of Central Africa in holding and believing that all people are created equal in the image of God and that God wills his people to live their lives to its full potential abundantly, cautiously welcome the formation of the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe.
This development comes after a long period of political polarisation which created immense suffering of the people. However we are concerned about the continued detention of some political and human rights activists which is indicative of business as usual contrary to the spirit and objectives of Global Agreement. The continued detention of the activists is not conducive to the spirit of reconciliation and to the promotion of peace and justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.
This kind of statement simply dances around the real problem. Baldly stated, Zimbabwe is in the grip of a political party (ZANU/PF) and a leader (Robert Mugabe) who are jointly determined to rob whoever they can and to destroy whatever they cannot take. They are deeply corrupt and cruel, senselessly so, having brought great suffering to their own people. To South Africa’s great shame – Desmond Tutu has said so, and other bishops – the South African government there has said nothing critical about Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government of national unity is a sham, yet another move by which the crocodile Mugabe swallows up another victim, in this case the opposition party MDC and its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai is a man of integrity and courage, but came under enormous pressure from South Africa to enter this coalition, of which the only effect will be to rob him of credibility, since he and his ministers have no power. The power all remains with Mugabe and his henchmen – hence the reference to activists of the opposition being detained illegally (eg Jestina Mukoko, a brave woman, who simply kept records of people who had been tortured or who had ‘disappeared’ until they came for her too. She has in theory been released, but in fact is in a hospital bed under constant police guard. And in Zimbabwe that means that she is a prisoner.) As a Christian I ought always to have hope. I have none for Zimbabwe. It is another failed state, and Christian influence there and in South Africa seems powerless.