Police arrest Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters at Harvest house in Harare April 25, 2008. Police gather outside their headquarters before arresting Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)...
(Reuters/Philimon Bulawayo)
As the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Harare (CPCA) I would like to express by profound shock at the way lawlessness is being perpetrated by some of our law enforcement agents, namely the police against innocent citizens who have not committed any crime but were merely gathering for prayer as usual.
As a person who was equally involved in the liberation struggle of this nation, I never dreamt that after getting rid of a colonial system which denied me basic human rights, I would one day lead a church that is being persecuted by our own government.
The events of the past weekend have led me to believe that there is a deliberate attempt to persecute Anglican Christians in this diocese. It makes me wonder whether the Anglican Church in Harare Diocese is an easy target because it was once associated closely with the colonial government. Or else, why has it become a scapegoat to the point that even the legal system has remained indifferent to pass a judgment on a case that was submitted in October 2007 concerning the ownership of the assets of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) which Kunonga is claiming ownership of, after having left the very Church Province and formed his own church?
Why do the police enforcement agents keep on telling us that they are getting “orders from above” when they come to interfere with our services? After all Kunonga has no followers except a few clergy and their families.
The events of Saturday 19th April where 3200 members of Mothers’ Union had gathered at St. Michael’s Church Mbare to commemorate Mary’s Day and were chased away by riot police under the so-called directive from above, are a case in point.
The mothers had gathered from 7 am onward coming from distant places as far as Kariba, and had spent several hours praying and singing as is usually done on such a day, only to be told by police that they were no longer allowed to use the premises of this church and should disperse forthwith.
