20 Zim clergy held by cops

2003-02-28 15:19

Ryan Truscott and Susan Njanji

Harare - Police in Zimbabwe picked up 20 clergymen on Friday during a protest march against alleged police abuses and seperately cautioned another about his interest in politics.

The clerics, dressed in suits and carrying three wooden crosses, were picked up just a few metres away from the entrance to the police general headquarters where they planned to seek an apology for the arrest of one of their colleagues two weeks ago at a church in Harare.

The multidenominational group of clergy wanted to hand over a petition to police chief Augustine Chihuri, saying it was their duty to overcome "unjust laws that encourage the selective and vindictive exercise of authority".

But the group was stopped before it reached the police buildings. They were loaded on to the back of an open vehicle and driven away, followed by two police Land Rovers, one filled with riot police.

Hours earlier, in Bulawayo, an outspoken critic of President Robert Mugabe's government was cautioned by police at his Roman Catholic cathedral offices not to get political in his sermons.

Reeling under crises

Archibishop Pius Ncube said the police caution followed a service he had conducted on Thursday night at which seven victims of alleged state-sponsored torture gave testimonies.

"We had a service yesterday (Thursday) and they pointed out that the service should purely be of a religious nature and not mention aspects critical of the government," said Ncube.

He said he told police it was impossible to separate issues of hunger, economic hardships and violence from religion.

"If people are suffering ... the church cannot excuse itself," he said.

Zimbabwe is reeling under an economic and political crisis which critics blame on the Mugabe government.

Two weeks ago, police disrupted a meeting at an church in Harare's upmarket suburb of Borrowdale and arrested several clergymen and rights activists.

Police dispersed the meeting and arrested among others the leader of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, grouping of pentecostal churches, as well as top rights activist and anti-corruption campaigner John Makumbe.

The churchmen said their role was to contribute towards the building of Zimbabwe and its future.

The clergymen's petition also called on police chief to "take immediate corrective measures to ensure the police force in the country performs its duties with respect for the church and every citizen of Zimbabwe."

- AFP