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Arch: Stand up against Mugabe
22/03/2007 17:00 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube urged his countrymen on Thursday to stand up to the iron-fisted government of President Robert Mugabe.
"My biggest worry is Zimbabweans are cowards," Ncube told a meeting convened by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, which also organised a prayer rally thwarted this month by security forces who arrested and assaulted opposition leaders.
"That very fear (of death) is the demise of Zimbabwe," he said, highlighting that many were already dying as a result of deprivation brought on by the political and economic downturn blamed on Mugabe's policies.
"It's time for a radical stance, not soft speeches and cowardice," said Ncube, an outspoken critic of the government of 83-year-old Mugabe, who has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.
He called on Zimbabweans to take part in peaceful protests, saying: "Now we must just stand up to this government, stand up and fill the streets and demand this man (Mugabe) to stand down right now. I am willing to stand in front.
"The time is now."
Ncube said many people have died of malnutrition in a country with unemployment of 80% and inflation at 1 730%, while others perished in hospitals while doctors and nurses were on strike.
Blazing guns
"How many have been eaten by crocodiles while trying to cross the Limpopo River into South Africa and how many have died in Lindela (a detention camp for illegal immigrants in South Africa)?"
Church leaders were too fond of comfort to risk their lives and privileges to lead protests against Mugabe's government, said Ncube.
"As long as we are in for comfort, we are not going to get rid of these oppressors," he said.
"I urge the pastors to get off the comfort of their seats and suffer with the people. The pastors must be the ones in front of the blazing guns. There is no guns or atomic power that is going to conquer."
The Church group reported the death of another opposition activist arrested when police blocked its prayer rally at Highfields township on March 11.
"We understand that Itai Manyeruke, 30, was among the group of people who were injured during the beatings by the police and taken to Harare Hospital where he died," said Lucky Moyo, spokesperson for the Christian Alliance.
"We only learnt about his death yesterday (on Wednesday)."
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