“The march is not ended”
IT is interesting that Anglican bishops in the country lent their voice to the growing chorus against rising cases of human rights abuses by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and the worsening political and economic crisis in the country.
Strikingly, they titled their letter The March Is Not
Ended. Their message was clear, that the July 31 march that Mnangagwa fought hard to suppress was the struggle of the people of Zimbabwe. The reaction by Mnangagwa and his ministers, especially Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, to try and silence the Catholic Church leaders was in effect trying to silence “God’s people”.
“We write this message to highlight our concerns and emphasise that indeed the March is Not Ended unless and until the issues raised by the people of Zimbabwe and also echoed by the bishops are attended to and resolved holistically,” the bishops said.
The letter was signed by ACZ chairman, Ignatios Makumbe of the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, Godfrey Tawonezvi (Diocese of Masvingo), Cleophas Lunga (Diocese of Matabeleland), Erick Ruwona (Diocese of Manicaland) and Farai Mutamiri (Diocese of Harare).
After Mutsvangwa’s diarrheal response to the pastoral letter by the Catholic bishops, we eagerly await her response to a similar message from the leaders of the Anglican Church in the country. Mnangagwa and his government must bear in mind that having alienated the 1,1 million Catholics in the country, they can hardly afford to do the same to another large religious flock.
Churches have traditionally spoken against human rights abuses, overtly or covertly. That the churches are choosing to confront the government directly speaks to just how much this regime has put itself on the pedestal against everyone else, bar its power-hungry leaders. The Anglican Church leaders make that clear as well.
“We make it abundantly clear that since time immemorial, the Church in Zimbabwe has spoken against injustice and has been consistent in that regard. Any view or postulation to the contrary would be an attempt to re-write that narrative in order to promote a negative picture of what the Church stands for.”
What tribal diatribe is Mutsvangwa going to spew this time? Who is being genocidal when events in the country are put into context? Is Mnangagwa willing to throw his challenge to the churches again? Does he actually think this is a war he will win?
Not all battles are won by the gun and Mnangagwa’s behaviour is that of a man who knows he has already lost the hearts and minds of Zimbabweans. Or like the Biblical Saul or Paul, he could turn a leaf, apologise for the despicable acts by his security forces committed in his name and work with the people towards a better future.
Zimbabwe is in a crisis, whatever the colour of blinkers Mnangagwa and his ministers are wearing, the sooner they acknowledge this and look for a solution the better.