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19
Pastors Detained
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition
February 28, 2003
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition condemns
the unlawful arrest today of 19 pastors from the Zimbabwe National Pastors
Conference (ZNPC).
The pastors were protesting the recent detention
of pastors attending a public meeting on "The Church – Resolving
or Worsening the Zimbabwe Crisis" at Northside Community Church.
Their petition, signed by Pastor Joseph Munemo (Secretary, ZNPC) and Reverend
Charles Chiriseri (Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe) states that this
is "one among many cases of violence against people, pastors and
Clergy in this country."
The pastors had planned a procession from Central
Ave via 7th Street, to Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) on
7th/Chinamano. From there, they had intended to go to Mkwati
Building to deliver a petition to the Minister of Home Affairs. They wanted
to demand an assurance that the "present abuse of power stops forthwith".
At the Police Headquarters, Assistant Commissioner Mandeya had agreed
to meet him, as the Commissioner was not in the office.
Wearing clerical collars and carrying three
crosses, the pastors proceeded up 7th Street. The multi-denominational
group of 19 includes Anglican, Catholic, Dutch Reform, Lutheran, Methodist,
Pentecostal and Presbyterian pastors. On arrival outside PGHQ, the pastors
the police that they were to see the Assistant Commissioner. However,
police officers in riot gear arrived in a police vehicle. They were banging
their baton sticks on the side of the open truck, chanting "wasuwa
kurohwa," (meaning, it’s a long time since you were beaten.)
Inspector Ndou, from Harare Law and Order approached the group, and told
them they could not give the petition to the Assistant Commissioner. When
the pastors insisted that they wanted to speak to the Assistant Commissioner,
they were arrested and taken in police vehicles to Harare Central Police
Station, escorted by the riot police truck.
These arrests are part of a series of harassment
of church leaders in recent months. Christians for Justice and Peace in
Bulawayo yesterday organised a Prayers for Peace service, whereby victims
of political violence gave their testimony in St Mary’s Bulawayo Catholic
Cathedral. Participants leaving the service were harassed when members
of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) arrived to question Archbishop
Pius Ncube, of the Catholic Church.
In addition, Pastor Immanuel Hlabangana, has
been questioned by the police and CIO in recent weeks for his work in
Mutare and in Manicaland Province.
The continued harassment of church leaders
signifies a further constraint of Zimbabwe’s civic space, and limits the
capacity of Zimbabweans to freely discuss, debate, and propose solutions
to the nation’s crises. The Coalition calls for an end to the harassment
of church and civic leaders, and demands an immediate return to the rule
of law, and respect for the human rights of all Zimbabweans.
Visit
the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet
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