Zim police arrest four priests
2002-02-17 11:22
Bulawayo - Zimbabwean police on Saturday arrested eleven people, including
four church ministers, at meeting in the western city of Bulawayo
to pray for peace in the run-up to next month's presidential
elections.
Church officials told the African Christian Democratic Party
(ACDP) in South Africa that Father Noel Scott from the Anglican
Church and other church leaders from all denominations were headed
for regular prayer sessions when he was arrested.
An ACDP statement said on Sunday that Scott had earlier asked
for permission for the "Peace Prayer Procession" but police denied
him permission, citing what they called unruly elements which could
disrupt the session.
A Sapa correspondent reported that the church leaders were
charged under draconian security laws with "disobeying the command
of a police officer," which carries a maximum penalty of five years
in jail.
The ACDP said the Zimbabwean church leaders notified the party
of the arrests in a letter which stated:
"What usually happens is that here in Hillside, the prayers
begin at the Catholic Church, after a church service and prayers,
everybody then walks on foot in procession to the next church which
has been the Anglican Church.
"The procession, involving hundreds of people, then walks onto
the next church which has been the Presbyterian Church. From there
the final leg of the peace/prayer walk ends at the Methodist
Church."
After Scott was on Saturday denied permission to lead the
churchgoers to walk to various churches, the members decided to
drive.
Police then arrested Scott and charged him with failing to
comply with the prohibition.
David Coltart, an MP in the city for the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change, told Sapa that the arrested were detained at the
Bulawayo central police station.
The ACDP, however, said church leaders in Zimbabwe had been
denied access to Scott, who has a heart condition which requires
medication three times a day.
Those arrested along with Scott are: Pastor Graham Shaw of the
Methodist Church, Pastor Kevin O' Doherty of the Catholic Church,
Peter Botright, Ron Marillier, Trevor Leonard, Palany Rojah, David
Marolong, Barry Dickenson, John Stakesby and his wife Joan who are
both teachers at Girls College.
- SAPA