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Zimbabwe democratic forces stand by Archbishop Pius Ncube
Violet Gonda, SW Radio Africa
July 24, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news240707/ZDF240707.htm

Leaders of the Save Zimbabwe Coalition held a press conference in Bulawayo on Tuesday to show their solidarity with the Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube, who has been at the end of a vicious government media attack over an alleged adulterous affair.

Thokozani Khupe the Vice President of the Tsvangirai MDC, Paul Themba Nyathi the election director for the Mutambara MDC, ZAPU leader Paul Siwela, NCA officials and church leaders from the Christian Alliance attended the press conference, which was held under the banner The Archbishop Pius Ncube Solidarity Coalition (APN). The coalition of civil society, opposition political parties and churches said they were concerned at the way the allegations had been handled by the regime and its media.

The central issue was not about whether or not the cleric was guilty or innocent but was about the publication of pornographic material in the state media, in what has been seen as an attempt to embarrass and harass the outspoken Archbishop.

Graphic naked pictures allegedly of the cleric were splashed in the Chronicle newspaper and the state broadcaster, exposing children to pornographic content in flouting the Censorship Act, the Children's Adoption and Protection Act and the Broadcasting Services Act, among other laws.

A statement by the Coalition said: "It is only a desperate government that can subject children to pornographic material in contravention of its draconian censorship laws, to score a political goal."The group said the merits and demerits of this case should be left to the courts and the Roman Catholic Church and noted that the media blitz was an attempt to divert people's attention from the economic crisis on the ground. The democratic forces said they strongly stand by the Archbishop, saying political attacks on him will not solve the crisis in this country.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo Catholic parishioners have organized a prayer service at St Mary's Cathedral in solidarity with the Archbishop on Wednesday, to confirm and reaffirm their support for what he stands for.

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