Maravi

Zim Catholic bishops accuse Western countries of fuelling their countr

Zim Catholic bishops accuse Western countries of fuelling their countr
By Agness Changala and Brighton Phiri
Wednesday April 23, 2008 [04:00]

THE Western countries’ comments are fuelling Zimbabwe's crisis, visiting Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) secretary general Fr Fredrick Chiromba has charged. In an interview at Lusaka's Kapingila House, Fr Chiromba who was in Zambia for a prophetic mission last week, charged that some Western countries' comments on Zimbabwe prior and during the last harmonised elections were not helpful in resolving the political tension in that country.

"What the West speaks about at times complicates the situation in Zimbabwe. It could have been better if they didn't talk too much before the elections," Fr Chiromba said. "Some comments were helpful while others were not because some of our people were beginning to speculate about the rigging and not the election results."

Fr Chiromba said the West had contributed towards President Mugabe's current positions over the country's affairs. He urged the West to exercise their impartiality if they were to be seen as concerned global citizens contributing towards finding a lasting solution for Zimbabwe's crisis. Fr Chiromba said the church would continue to pray for election results that would genuinely reflect the will of the people.

"We are praying for results that genuinely represent the will of the people. We shall also continue to urge the people to remain calm and peaceful as we wait for the results," he said. "If the situation remains the same, we will continue to pray for peace and meaningful resolution... and this will be done by engaging the government and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)."

On the relationship between President Robert Mugabe's government and the church, Fr Chiromba said it had improved in the last three years because the two parties were able to engage, dialogue and transform the tensions.

He said the Catholic Church had no difficulties in guiding President Mugabe as he was a Catholic and belonged to a group of parishioners of olden days.
"President Robert Mugabe being a catholic attends mass when he has an opportunity and belongs to a strong Catholic Church believers of the olden days. The Church had not failed to guide President Mugabe as a member but always has some influence on him," he said.

Fr Chiromba said although the elections were free and fair, the delay in releasing the results had made it difficult for anyone to know the winner.
He said although President Mugabe enjoyed considerable support among his own people, some Zimbabweans were dissatisfied with him over the land reform policy, which was not properly handled.

Fr Chiromba said the West's sanctions that followed after the land reforms contributed greatly to Zimbabwe's economic crisis. He said the church had not been spared by the West's economic sanctions as it was amongst the victims of circumstance.

"The Church has not received adequate funding from our traditional contributors due to high level of unemployment. Many people are out of employment and the Church does not have funds to help them," he said.

Fr Chiromba said the women and children were the worst hit by the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. "There's an increase in street children, HIV/AIDS infections, orphans and destitution," said Fr Chiromba.

Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS, ZCBC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:13 AM