Christian Alliance leaders released without charge

By Tererai Karimakwenda
7 August 2006

The four leaders from the Christian Alliance who were arrested last Friday were released without charge after being questioned about the activities of their organisation. The four arrested were Bishop Levy Kadenge, Reverend Chigwida, Mr. Pious Wakatama and Reverend Magaya and his wife. They were arrested at the Snake Park 20 kilometres outside Harare after a Bulawayo meeting of the Christian Alliance leadership. Alliance coordinator Useni Sibanda told us the police questioned them about the activities of the group after reports that they were planning to form a political party. Sibanda said those reports were false and that the group was apolitical. The police confiscated some documents which Sibanda said were public anyway and he added that the group had no reason to hide anything from the law.

The arrests came nearly a week after the Alliance organised the successful Save Zimbabwe National Convention at which the leaders of the 2 factions of the MDC embraced and shook hands for the first time since the party split last year. The Convention also involved other opposition leaders, civic groups and churches. The idea was to bring the political parties together with civic society to try and map a way towards resolving the national crisis. It is largely believed the arrests may have been triggered by the success of this Convention and that the government fears a broad alliance that could bring the whole country together.

Sibanda told us that even the ruling party’s officials were invited to participate but they did not show up. He said they had also invited leaders from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe led by Bishop Trevor Manhanga and they too failed to send a representative. The group led by Bishop Manhanga has been criticised for cooperating with Robert Mugabe and inviting him to speak at The National Day of Prayer last month. Manhanga has insisted that it is important to submit a document to Mugabe with suggestions for resolving the crisis and see whether he is serious about saving the country.

The Alliance was formed by clergy from different denominations who believe the church has a prophetic responsibility to play a role in helping resolve the problems that have gripped the country. Sibanda told us they intend to remain neutral and their role was to facilitate internal dialogue among the different stakeholders. He explained that it is then up to those other civic and political groups to decide how to move forward regarding a solution to the current economic and political crisis.

Soon after the arrests, The Crisis Coalition released a statement condemning the police action. Part of the statement said: “It remains our position to support processes that involve the people in finding the resolutions to the Zimbabwean crisis. The emblem of their honest spirit of uniting the opposition parties, churches and civil society as a panacea to the long standing crisis will remain unequalled and appreciable by the people of Zimbabwe. There is no substitute for the truth and such arrests may not deter honest Zimbabweans from facilitating nation building.”