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ZLP supports Bishops' pastoral letter
Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP)
May 29, 2007

The Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP), a non-partisan, non-governmental organization founded by genuine war veterans, joins other progressive organizations and individuals in applauding Zimbabwe's Catholic bishops for issuing the recent pastoral letter.

The bishops' analysis of the crisis bedeviling Zimbabwe could not have been more accurate and candid. Their observations coincide with the concerns ZLP has espoused in previous statements and other publications. The crisis facing the country is basically due to:

- Bad governance practices;
- Abuse/violation of human rights;
-Infringement of freedom of expression, media, assembly and association;
-Uneven/hostile political landscape;
-Subordination of national interests to those of a few selfish individuals;
-Political intolerance; and
-Rampant corruption.

Manifestations of these practices were amply documented in the pastoral letter. Suffice to add that the recent crackdown on the opposition and unlawful bashing of lawyers who only wanted to present a petition to the minister of justice, further demonstrate the extent of government's intolerance to dissent.

ZLP seeks to advocate for good governance practices and respect for fundamental human rights by promoting the original objectives and values that underpinned the liberation struggle. To this end, ZLP finds some of the laws enacted by Parliament and government's practices enumerated above, to be inconsistent with the objectives of the struggle. It is totally inconceivable that a government, born out of a bitter armed liberation war, could enact such repressive pieces of legislation as Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). A few years ago, we engaged reputable human rights lawyers to conduct an audit of Rhodesia's Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA) and POSA. Their conclusion was that POSA was even more repressive than LOMA. Therefore enactment of such laws surely negates the ideals of the armed struggle.

As war veterans, we believe that we have the legitimate right to challenge the perception held by some elements in government that they cannot be criticized for their policies, practices and laws because the ZANU PF government is a product of the liberation struggle. Leaders should be held accountable for their actions and practices. What ZLP found most disheartening was the leadership's reaction to the pastoral letter. Instead of candidly embracing the recommendations made therein, they accused the bishops of pursuing a political agenda (the usual "regime change" agenda) and making all sorts of threats.

We do not find anything offensive in the pastoral letter. On the contrary, the letter exposes the truth. Even those who believe in their own lies/propaganda cannot dispute the naked truth that the people are indeed suffering. The bishops were merely telling government the same truth they told the Smith regime when it violated human rights. The current ZANU PF leadership supported the bishops' stance then. What double standards! We remind government that the truth is not situational, it is immortal. Injustice remains injustice, whether perpetrated by a white person on a black person or by a black person on a fellow black person.

Of concern to us were the remarks made local government minister Ignatius Chombo who sought to divide the bishops by alleging that some of them had dissociated themselves from the letter. Chombo should be reminded that during the liberation war, some of the bishops and members of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, were persecuted, deported or even killed by the Smith regime for supporting the people's cause. The truth is that Chombo is one of the beneficiaries of ZANU PF's patronage and will therefore defend the system at all costs.

We urge the bishops to dismiss his remarks as the usual ZANU PF's divisive tactics and remain united and focused in their noble mission to expose injustice, inequality and corruption, that pervade Zimbabwean society. ZLP supports the bishops' initiatives.

Issued by the National Council.

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