Action Alert: Church-goers arrested in Harare; author Peter Godwin among them
Post updated: 25 May 2008 ~ 16.30
News just in that the church-goers have just been released
These arrests are part of the ongoing former Anglican Archbishop Nolbert Kunonga who is a staunch ally of Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF. Kunonga, whom we have written about on a few occassions, was finally excommunicated from the Anglican Church last week, but is still refusing to go quietly. Most of the feud between Kunonga and the Anglican community centered previously on St Mary’s Cathedral in Harare, but is now spilling into the surrounding areas as well. (More background on the Kunonga saga at the end of this post).
Arrests at Christ Church: Borrowdale:
Congregants at Christ Church in Borrowdale recently were allowed by court order to pray there.
We have received news this morning that despite this, riot police blocked the entrance of the entrance to congregants who were attempting to attend service.
The women, in their anger, broke down the fence to get in. All the women have been arrested. We are told up to 80 women have been arrested, as well as the priest.
We have also heard that Peter Godwin, author of Mukiwa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun was amongst the parishioners attempting to pray on Africa Day. He has also been arrested.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have been contacted.
Please call the police station and object
The telephone number for Borrowdale Police station is + 263 (0)4 882819
Tell them that the world is appalled by this infringement on our human right to worship and at the flagrant disregard shown for the rule of law.
Zimbabwe is a predominantly Christian country with strong church-going community, so ask the person you speak to what they think God would be thinking of this?
Tell them that not only is God watching this, so is the rest of the world. Tell them you all have great respect for Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean people and that you will be watching this story closely as it evolves.
Please let them know that if any harm comes to the parishioners, you will do all you can whereever you are in the world to call attention to their plight and that you will call for justice.
Please be polite at all times. If the person you are speaking to appears to be listening, please also ask him to quietly take a message to all those who were arrested and to tell them that the world is watching and praying for them and all Zimbabwe.
Background:
This from religiousintelligence.com - 24 May 2008:
Reports are coming out of Zimbabwe that the Government has effectively shut down the Anglican Church there.
The move comes following an uprising in the Church against the former Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga (pictured), a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. He was deposed from the leadership and his successor has been welcomed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
A court case upheld the bishop’s deposition, but allowed him to carry on holding services in the cathedral in Harare. He refused to relinquish office and instead seized the cathedral building and accounts. That move was also deemed illegal in court. However, he was required to share the building with the Anglican Church under his successor Bishop Sebastian Bakare.
Now it seems that security forces in Zimbabwe have over-ruled the courts and deemed that only services loyal to Kunonga can go ahead. It seems likely that Anglicans will now have to join services of other denominations.
The move came just hours before the return to the country of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is to take part in a run-off election against Mugabe next month.
It is thought that the latest move is a bid to stem support for the MDC, although the Anglican Church has not officially sided with the opposition in the election battle.
Yesterday, ReligiousIntelligence.com reported that the Zimbabwean authorities have banned all open-air meetings. With the move against the Church, it effectively bans Anglicans from worshipping anywhere in Zimbabwe.
May 25th, 2008 16:23
CHRISTIANITY!!
Are these people involved in this fued true christians. I blame both factions. The other faction is using evil political power in church just to fight for positions whilst the other one, although non-violent its advocating for NON CHRITIAN morals like homosesxuality. Both systems are not tolerable in a Christian environment unles we are now leaving like Sodom & Gomora. Kunonga should just respect the decision of being excommunication and go start his own church. He is not showing any christian morals buy using his political muscle to harras people who don’t want him. Innocent believers are now being arrested on political grounds. Kunonga should know that he can never win as long as he is against God. He might have all the political support from the ruling party but without christian principles, he wont succeed in anything. These people are not only innocent, they are the Lord’s people.
May 25th, 2008 16:24
Re: Peter Godwin
In an interview in July 2007 for Bookslut website Peter Godwin was asked bout his possible return to Zimbabwe. He said: “You know, I’m not looking to pop back anytime soon. I think that I would be very vulnerable.”
If he has obtained a proper journalist visa he should be OK. He mentioned the dangers of not having one in the same interview.
http://www.bookslut.com/features/2007_07_011354.php
May 25th, 2008 18:29
Guys — I called the number in the article (+2634882819) on Skype — but the person picking up the telephone claimed to be a “student” and not at Borrowdale Police Station — can you shed any light please.
May 25th, 2008 19:24
Peter Godwin was to sign his books at St Georges on Saturday please contact the St Georges Group on facebook and post this as he is an old Georgian and these guys will do there bit I am sure….
May 25th, 2008 19:37
Hi. We posted an update that everyone had been released, in fact, not that long after we put up the alert! It seems it is good news.
@Jocelyn - I can’t explain that except to say that the zim telephone lines are very bad!
Thank you for you efforts. If we find out any more about this we will let you know.
May 25th, 2008 20:38
My prayers are with the innocent Anbglicans who are being denied their right to worship. I am an Anglican clery in Kenya and today we prayed for Zimbabwe that God may touch Bishop Kunonga so that he may let go. He is hurting his own people.
May 28th, 2008 22:05
Hi
come on guys all this awful stuff that is happening in Zims is terrible,why can’t Bob and his puppets not see they have stuffed Zimbabwe totally one would think Bob would give it away or even pay morgan to have the country,lets face it the country is buggered,the Rhodesians gave him a beautiful country that was the bread basket of Africia.and Bob been the heathen that he is has stuffed the country up,we are sure he must be blind,deaf and stupid,if he can’t see the damage he has done.
COME ON BOB GIVE IT UP AS A BAD JOKE
June 6th, 2008 06:08
Oh, Lord can you forgive a sinner like mea?
I have been
1. A liar
2. A thief
3. A torturer
4. A killer
5. A hypocrite
6. A kleptomaniac
7. An usurper
8. A mischief
9. Hater of man
10. A racist
GOD: ‘ Ask first forgivance from your own people whom you have caused so much misery and suffering. I have helped you a lot by prolonging your life so you can repent. But am now tired of helping one who cannot help himself.’