The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has officially requested President Robert Mugabe to intervene over the harassment of Anglican churches in Zimbabwe.
Williams is visiting Zimbabwe and recently met with President Mugabe. Williams confirmed that after the meeting a joint dossier had been presented to Mr Mugabe giving a “full account of the abuses to which our people and our church has been subject” over the last four years.
The dossier outlines how Anglican congregations have suffered “systematic harassment and persecution at the hands of the police, often in direct contravention of court rulings”.
The abuses cited include false imprisonment, violence, denial of access to churches, schools, clinics and mission stations, and the misappropriation of church property.
The dossier points out Dr Nolbert Kunonga as the main instigator of the abuse. Dr. Kunonga was excommunicated in 2007 and has since attempted to establish his own Anglican Church in Zimbabwe.
“Every week tens of thousands of Anglicans are denied their basic right to worship because of the lies and falsifications being propagated by Dr Kunonga.”
“We are dismayed that our continued calls for justice go unheard. Meanwhile threats made to our personal freedoms and security have continued to multiply over the last few months.
“We respectfully ask you, as head of state and of the executive in Zimbabwe, put an end to this illegal harassment by some members of the police, whose mandate is to protect civilians, and allow us once again to use the properties which are rightfully ours so that we may worship God in peace and serve our communities and our country.”
“We are proud of our church and our people who have suffered so much, but who continue to serve with love and with hope,” added the dossier.
“For our part we pray, and invite you to join us in praying, that the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe be allowed to carry out its mission in peace, and serve its communities with love.”
(Image from file).