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Zanu PF thugs issue threatening letter to church goers in Mashonaland East
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
May 22, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news220507/churchgoers220507.htm

Back in April on the programme Zim Alive we reported on events in the rural district of Murehwa, where a large number of youth militia had been dispatched to harass local church officials who had read out the critical Pastoral letter issued by the Catholic Bishops. The letter said those in authority are bad examples for Zimbabwe's youth because they are corrupt, greedy and immoral. The Catholic Bishops also criticised government for sponsoring violence against its opponents. In response, the authorities did just that.

Our Murehwa contact Kumbirai says ZANU-PF structures in Mashonaland East have since sent a threatening letter ordering them to discontinue their church activities or be prepared to deal with tough consequencies. Written in Shona the letter named six individuals from the church who would be harmed if nothing changed. It was signed by unnamed ruling party thugs in Mutoko, Mudzi, UMP, Goromonzi and Murehwa.

Addressed to the congregation of the Roman catholic church the text of the ZANU-PF letter says:

"Nyaya yamatanga ine ngozi. Namatayi Mwari mosiyana ne politics dza Pius Ncube (MDC). Regai kubvisa vanhu pana Mwari. Mukaenderera mberi hondo yacho tinoigona. Mogadzirira kutakura mikwende. Mukaramba muchiita izvi ticha kutorayi one by one. Saka chisarudzi zvamunoda- hondo, runyararo kana kuvhara sangano renyu. Pasi ne MDC navateveri va Pius Ncube. From- Mutoko, Mudzi, UMP, Goromonzi ne Murehwa ZANU-PF."

Translated, the words read: "The saga you have started is madness. Worship God and leave the politics of Pius Ncube and MDC alone. Stop removing people from God. If you continue we will win this war. Prepare to pack your belongings. If you keep this up we shall take you one by one. So choose whether you want war, peace or to stop your church activities. Down with MDC and the followers of Pius Ncube."

Kumbirai said all six threatened people are still in the area because they have nowhere else to go. They have families and established contacts that are vital to their survival. And no-one can simply shut down a church based on political threats. ZANU-PF thugs have also been threatening religious leaders around the country who were associated with the Bishops' pastoral letter that criticized top officials. It seems no critic of the government is safe.

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