Bishop Kunonga defends Mugabe again


By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 July 2005

Zimbabwe's Anglican Bishop of Harare, Reverend Nobert Kunonga, has once again spoken in support of the Mugabe regime and against efforts by other clergy to act on the controversial operation Murambatsvina.

Reverend Kunonga criticised South African clergymen who last week visited Zimbabwe to assess the impact of Operation Murambatsvina, saying the group was serving British interests under the guise of a humanitarian exercise. The South African team was led by Archbishop Njongokulu Ndungane, also of the Anglican Church, who Kunonga described as "a willing horse for the British government".

Kunonga's main argument was that the visiting delegation had not consulted the church's Province of Central Africa under which Zimbabwe falls. He said since Archbishop Ndungane belongs to the Province of Southern Africa, he was therefore supposed to inform the Central African chapter on his mission.

The Herald reported Sunday that Kunonga's remarks came after revelations that the clergymen's two-day visit could have been funded by British intelligence services. According to The Herald, Kunonga said the clergymen had "disgraced" themselves by becoming part of futile attempts to effect regime change in Zimbabwe.

Reverend Kunonga went further to attack some local churches that he said have been working hand in glove with countries that are seeking to destabilise the country. He said these churches had lost direction and abandoned their real calling.