A leading association of churches that represents 26 different denominations in Zimbabwe says President Robert Mugabe’s government is behaving irresponsibly and calls on related state officials to come to terms with the growing economic crisis in the country.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches explains in a press statement published by Eyewitness News on Wednesday that Zimbabweans have lost trust in their government and that trust isn’t built by misrepresenting facts.
Government must with sincerity and frankness address national problems, the Church leaders warn.
According to Eyewitness News, the Clergy urge that in the face of the present fuel queues and shortages, it’s irresponsible for any government official to claim that “all is well.”
Many Zimbabweans have been stockpiling fuel and basic goods in recent days, the source says, anticipating shortages as the foreign currency crisis worsens.
In a statement, the Council of Churches explains such fears are legitimate in the absence of what it calls “adequate formal information.”
Pastor on the run
The Zimbabwean pastor who month back emerged as leader of a protest movement against President Robert Mugabe’s “authoritarian government” reportedly left the country this week.
Reunited with his family in South Africa, Evan Mawarire, the part-time pastor of a small, informal Harare congregation, and architect of Zimbabwe’s fast-growing social media protest site, #This Flag, told local reports he is not going home following repeated arrests in which he is accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
Then, at a state funeral at the National Heroes Acre in Harare days later, sources report, Mugabe told mourners that Mawarire was “not part of us” and if he didn’t “want to live with us” he should “go to those countries that are sponsoring them”.
“Find another environment if you are pastor, I don’t know if he is man of religion, we would hope that he would preach Biblical peace. First Corinthians says we must not destroy and fight one another. So beware these men of cloths; not all of them are true preachers of the Bible. I don’t know whether they are serving God, well we spell God they spell God in reverse,” Mugabe is quoted to have said.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
