Mugabe prays for peace while his CIOs hunt down religious critics

By Tererai Karimakwenda
26 June 2006

Robert Mugabe on Sunday attacked the media, warned the church to stay away from politics and accused white Zimbabweans of not repenting after he extended a hand of reconciliation in 1980. The angry speech was made during the controversial prayer day that took place at Glamis Stadium in Harare. But as Mugabe prayed for divine intervention in the Zimbabwe crisis, Bishop Dr. Levee Kadenge the convener of the Christian Alliance which boycotted the event, remained in hiding after receiving threats from a state agent on Thursday. Clerics from the Zimbabwe National Pastors Conference who met in Highfields also said they were threatened. They say state agents wanted a list of participants in order to intimidate them.

At the prayer day Mugabe said: "When the church leaders start being political, we regard them as political creatures and we are vicious in that area." Bishop Trevor Manhanga and some of the church leaders who met Mugabe at state house last month attended the prayer day and Manhanga defended Mugabe, saying he did not attack anyone and church leaders who get into politics should be treated as politicians. He said he was prepared to set up a meeting between the chief of the CIOs and the church leaders who say they are threatened. He said: “Let’s test the veracity of their claims.” Asked if the clergy were lying Bishop Manhanga said he was not accusing anyone of telling lies but he simply wanted to take the claims to the authorities and get at the truth. Manhanga also said he would guarantee their safety.

Useni Sibanda, coordinator for the Alliance said Mugabe is not behaving like a Christian and the political nature of his speech is exactly what they had been afraid of. He added that it is unfortunate that Bishop Manhanga of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and others are not keen to heed the advice to stop cooperating with Mugabe. Manhanga has been criticized for postponing Prayer Day from May 25th and allowing Mugabe to politicize the prayers. Christian Alliance leaders and opposition party leaders boycotted the event on Sunday.

Mugabe prayed for the media to report in a “responsible manner.” But critics disregarded the remarks saying Mugabe sees anyone who reports the truth as an enemy and it is he who needs to be more ‘responsible’ with the media. They said he should first repeal the oppressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and allow banned independent newspapers and foreign journalists to operate in the country.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights are reported to have written to Security minister Didymus Mutasa regarding the threats made to Bishop Kadenge of the Christian Alliance. The Bulawayo based bishop told us he had not gone home since Thursday when he received a call from a CIO agent who accused him of meeting with other clergy to form a political party.

Mugabe prayed for divine intervention on Sunday asking God to pardon Zimbabwe for sins that she committed. But Mugabe himself continues to use agents from the notorious Central Intelligence Organisation to oppress the nation. So who is the sinner?