Zimbabwe
Anglican Archbishop to mediate Zimbabwe crisis

afrol News, 7 February - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has asked Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Southern Africa to mediate in between Zimbabwe and ex-colonial power Britain. While Zimbabwean church leaders today protested government policies, the Archbishop has been criticised for not meeting the Zimbabwean opposition during his Harare stay.

According to the Anglican Communion's London headquarters, President Mugabe himself had invited the Archbishop to Harare. The two-hour meeting between the two leaders had been constructive and "certainly opens a new window of hope," commented the Archbishop.

Archbishop Ndungane, who heads the biggest religious community in this part of Africa, expressed he had be able to hold an open dialogue about the worsening political, economic and social crisis with President Mugabe. "He does not deny that there is a problem," he was quoted in London.

Britain has taken a lead in international efforts to isolate the Mugabe regime as a reaction to the increased political repression in Zimbabwe. According to Mr Mugabe, these British initiatives however are a product of imperialism, racism and an attempt to protect the interests of Zimbabwe's landowning white minority of British descent.

President Mugabe however wins little support for these views, not even in Zimbabwe, if the opposition is to be believed. The Church in Zimbabwe has been a central player in the growing resistance to the Mugabe regime and several church leaders have stated their support for the opposition. Archbishop Ndungane reportedly has received an avalanche of letter urging the Anglican Church to pronounce a clearer view on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Several Zimbabwean church leaders only today in a statement denounced the government was "starving" ordinary citizens who are no in line with Mr Mugabe's policies. "Efforts of churches, non-governmental organisations and other concerned bodies to feed the hungry are greatly undermined in many areas by a callous and deliberate policy of rewarding or punishing voters according to their political affiliation," the statement said, adding "this cannot be allowed to continue."

Critical voices have also commented that Mr Ndungane only had met with President Mugabe during his short visit to Harare, forgetting Zimbabwean opposition leaders. "If you want to eat an elephant, have one bite at a time," Ndungane was quoted responding by South African 'Business Day', underlining the complexity of the Zimbabwean crisis.

Archbishop Ndungane has announced he is now going to give an orientation to South African President Thabo Mbeki to discuss further action. Then, he is to meet his colleague in Britain, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church.

Mr Ndungane the Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and St. Helena. The archdiocese is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Sources: Based on Anglican Churh and afrol archives

 

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