Mugabe Attacks Archbishop’s Comments Ahead of Zimbabwe Elections

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has dismissed comments made by the Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube accusing the country’s leader and his government of using oppressive tactics to ensure he retains power in the upcoming 31st March Zimbabwean elections.

The Zimbabwean church leader had made a call for a peaceful uprising to begin against President Mugabe’s repressive regime. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube made the statement just days before the Zimbabwe elections are due to take place.

Ncube also reported that emergency food stations in the country had been ordered by Mugabe to deny aid to the members of the public that were opposing the current government, and called for a peaceful uprising against the regime.

However, the controversial Mugabe rebuked the Archbishop’s comments and claimed that Ncube was a "half-wit". He went on to question the Archbishop of Bulawayo’s authority and was stated as saying, "I don’t know to which God he prays. His prayers are not as pious as his name suggests apparently. He is...a half-wit. I don’t know why the Vatican tolerates prayers of that nature."

Zimbabwe under Mugabe’s government have experienced huge national economic decline and food shortage crises, however, Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party are still expected to win the upcoming election by a huge landslide.

Many commentators including Archbishop Ncube have continuously reported that the elections in the country are arranged so that there is no possibility that the ZANU-PF party will lose power. Ncube reported that the elections will be overseen by Mugabe’s military and that the voting process will definitely be rigged to the government’s favour.

The ZANU-PF party spokesman, Dr Nathan Shamuyarira combined with Mugabe to dismiss the Archbishop’s claims. Shamuyarira said about Ncube, "He is a mad, inveterate liar. He has been lying for the past two years. As an Archbishop, we expect him to tell the truth and to respect the people of Matabeleland. He, however, fits into the scheme of the British and Americans, who are calling for regime change and are feeding him with these wild ideas."

The coming elections have experienced much less violence that previous ones, and Christian leaders have acknowledged the peaceful atmosphere currently being shown in the country. In stark contrast, previous elections have been marred by violent protests and oppressive attacks against opposition party leaders, as well as outspoken critics of Mugabe. Election fraud also has been a prominent and consistent rumour to surround the election processes in Zimbabwe over the past decade.

However, despite the seemingly calm exterior of the nation, Archbishop Ncube has been reported by Associated Press as commenting that a "kind of tacit violence" was taking place.

One of the most anxious worries of the Archbishop was the need for a leader that could help to gather and direct the efforts to rise up against Mugabe. Ncube said, "We do not have a leader to lead us. We need someone who is courageous. People must be ready even to risk losing their lives; everyone wants to keep safe."

The Zimbabwe elections will take place on Thursday, with many other international leaders joining the condemnation of Zimbabwe’s current "tyrannical" government, and joining the Archbishop’s calls for the people to use this opportunity to rise up.