Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
We hope you enjoy your visit!
You're currently viewing Catholic CyberForum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our online cyberparish, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.
Join our community!
Messages posted to this board must be polite and free of abuse, personal attacks, blasphemy, racism, threats, harrassment, and crude or sexually-explicit language.
If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Locked Topic
Archbishop Ncube The Brave
Topic Started: Friday, 23. March 2007, 23:46 (657 Views)
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
New Zimbabwe.com website
 
Archbishop Ncube urges UN to arrest Mugabe





By Jeremy Lovell

THE United Nations should arrest Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and put him on trial, Pius Ncube, the outspoken Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, said on Friday, warning of a potential massacre.
Ncube compared Mugabe to Cambodian dictator Pol Pot whose reign of terror killed millions of people by forcing them from cities into the countryside -- an act he said was being repeated in Zimbabwe as the government bulldozes thousands of homes.

"The United Nations should arrest Mugabe, bring him to trial, insist on free and fair elections," he told Britain's Channel 4 News from the Vatican. "There's a peasant-ification drive here, something like Pol Pot did."

"These people, they are being kind of forced to go to the country but in the country there was a drought this year and there isn't enough food -- Zimbabwe only produced a quarter of the food they produced formerly, five years ago," he added.

Inflation in the former breadbasket of Africa is more than 500 percent, unemployment is over 80 percent and starvation is rife as white-owned commercial farms that formed the backbone of the agrarian economy are seized by the state and broken up.

Ncube, a defiant critic of Mugabe who has been in power since the former Rhodesia won independence from Britain in 1980, said 1.5 million poor Zimbabweans were being forced from their city homes as they were razed to the ground.

The government says they are all illegal buildings and it is simply reasserting the rule of law.

"The only thing I can do to speak up for the people. I'll go back there. I am so angry. I am ready to stand before and gun and be shot"
ARCHBISHOP NCUBE
However, analysts note that urban Zimbabweans voted for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in elections earlier this year that returned Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party to power but which were widely regarded as rigged.

"They're revenging, going against the MDC which has won the relations in the town," Ncube said.

He accused African leaders of standing idly by while Mugabe destroyed his country and millions faced poverty and starvation.

"You must understand there is an African club here. They will support one another come what may because they feel that the western world is at an advantageous position economically," he said.

"They feel that we Africans we must support one another, not embarrass one another by criticising one another," he added.

Ncube said South African President Thabo Mbeki was the worst offender.

"The South African government...have done nothing but support Mugabe...Mbeki has lost all reputation in Zimbabwe for supporting a dictator who is killing his own people," he said.

Ncube raised the spectre of the 1994 massacre in Rwanda when the outside world did nothing to prevent the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in just 100 days in spite of clear signs it was brewing.

"We've seen what happened in Rwanda. People are standing around, the UN standing around, the African countries did nothing about it," he said. "We want another Rwanda to take place due to a mad man who's just after power?"

Ncube, who said his telephone was bugged and he was often followed by Zimbabwe's intelligence service, said he had no choice but to speak out.

"I am aware of the dangerous situation of speaking up but that is the only thing I can do to speak up for the people. I'll go back there. I am so angry. I am ready to stand before and gun and be shot," he added - Reuters



http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/roma19.12788.html
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Yes Rose this man is a brave beacon of hope in that country. I am too old to have heroes but if I did he would be the man
John
Goto Top
 
Eve
Former Admin/Moderator
One of our own Archbishops is willing to give his life for the Zimbabweans.

I beg you all, to consider supporting the Catholic internet newspaper that transmits Catholic News to oppressed people.

http://z10.invisionfree.com/Catholic_Cyber...wtopic=247&st=0
Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
The Tablet
 
 

Tutu accuses African leaders on Zimbabwe

by Ellen Teague





ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu has lambasted Africa leaders for their failure to criticise Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, writes Ellen Teague. According to Archbishop Tutu, an outspoken champion of human rights, he and his fellow Africans should "hang our heads in shame" at the suppression of opposition protest in Zimbabwe.

In a 16 March statement, the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Nobel laureate condemned Africa's leaders' silence in the face of the police violence in Harare on 11 March, when opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and many others were injured. "Do we care about human rights, do we care that people of flesh and blood, fellow Africans, are  treated like rubbish, almost worse than they were ever treated by rabid racists?" he said.

South Africa is under pressure for a bolder response to the Mugabe tyranny. Archbishop Tutu's rebuke followed a statement by the Congress of South African Trade Unions, saying that events in Zimbabwe showed that South Africa's policy of "quiet diplomacy" had not worked. On Tuesday Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo told the country's SAFM Radio that South Africa is "in the best position to put pressure on Zimbabwe".
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
tomais

Ellin Tague has been reprting on Zimbabwe for a little while now, usually in the Tablet.
It is only in the very recent past that Zimbabwe has once agin come to be in the news, television and print.
South Africa is very much dragging it heels- despite two million Zim refugees there.
Zimbabwe's seminaries are full.
Christianity is much to the fore- and Magabe has done his best to subvert it.
The statistics are horrifying on health, on commerce and economics.
Pius NcCube was in London about a month ago; there were some reports, a few.
The Chinese have been invited in and are lending vast amounts of money as well as the electronic software for reading e-mails- slicing open letters is so very easy as Mgabe at al have had long practice.
Yes I have had the Chines attempts at virus infections via my correspondances with Harare.
The Redemptorists are very active inand around Hare, and go about desptie the CIO threats and active discouragement.
Edinburgh University has been very laggardly in removing Magabw's ho doctorate- despite pressure they have still not done so.
There is concern that Bishop Pius may be an Africam Romero- we pray not.
Magabe may not last much longer- ( early altheimers?) and ZanuPF frustration; Few whites left- a few farmers out of six thousands and Zim is importing maze; inflation- 1,800 and rising. Petrol/diesel equivalent to £42.00 a litre.
The Church and Churches( with a few Bush type adherents) are the future.
Tomais
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Angus Toanimo
Member Avatar
Administrator
Good to see Archbishop Pius Ncube giving Mugabe some stick!

It's about time (well, long overdue) that some agency went into Zimbabwe and rid it of Mugabe and his ZanuPF comrades.

Trouble is, who will dare?
Posted Image
Posted Image
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
If our Prime Minister had urged the United Nations to send troops into Zimbabwe, he would have got far more support from the British people than he did over the invasion of Iraq.

I have two friends, the husband aged over 80, his wife probably late sixties. His father emigrated from England, so my friend is not British by birth. In 1939 the father and son left their farm in Zimbabwe under the management of the mother of the family, so the men could travel to Britain and defend this island in its hour of need. The same could be said of many men who were in that country during the war years. We needed them. They came. They need us now. What do they matter? They have no oil.

My friend was a highly qualified professional, very well off financially. He had a luxurious home, and gave employment to many. He is now in England, living from hand to mouth in a shabby 40 year old mobile home, penniless, getting little or no support from our governement. Judging by the photographs of his house in Zimbabwe, a similar property here would cost well over £1 million. He cannot go to it, he cannot dispose of it. Other people have taken it over, and ruined it - he has received photographs. They are cut off from friends they had for decades.
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Eve
Former Admin/Moderator
Did any of you see this morning's Heaven and Earth programme on BBC? I did and felt I was listening to a future martyr.

Link to report

BBC
 

Cleric calls for Mugabe to resign

Pius Ncube said the Zimbabwean government was corrupt

One of the most outspoken clerics in Zimbabwe has again called for President Robert Mugabe to resign.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube also urged Zimbabweans not to be intimidated by President Mugabe.

In an interview for BBC One's Heaven and Earth programme, to be broadcast on Sunday, the archbishop says the Zimbabwean government is corrupt.

President Mugabe has warned bishops against becoming too political.


African presidents have tried to negotiate with that man to no avail
Archbishop Ncube

The archbishop says the situation in Zimbabwe is getting steadily worse but even though people's morale has been broken they should not be intimidated.

"As far as I'm concerned he [President Mugabe] must go," he said.

"You can't negotiate with him. It's useless. African presidents have tried to negotiate with that man to no avail."

The archbishop also said opposition politicians in Zimbabwe needed to do more to prove themselves despite having been jailed and tortured.

This week President Mugabe warned his country's Catholic bishops that they were on a dangerous path if they became too political.

Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Derekap
Member Avatar

Patrick wrote:

"It's about time (well, long overdue) that some agency went into Zimbabwe and rid it of Mugabe and his ZanuPF comrades."


I hope if anyone does, the follow-up is better planned than the disasterous Blair/Bush escapade in Iraq.
Derekap
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Eve
Former Admin/Moderator
What a pity there is no oil in Zimbabwe.
Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
I thought Archbishop Ncube's voice was shaky, as though he felt nervous. That would be understandable. He was speaking openly, saying that he will always stand up against Mugabe, even if it results in his own death. He said the time has come for a massive campaign of civil disobedience because politicians have tried talking to Mugabe, it was a waste of time, and the Pope has talked to him, that too was a waste of time.


No doubt some (not our forum members) will come out with the old chestnut "The church should keep out of politics). Archbishop Ncube had a few words to say about that, too.
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Derekap
Member Avatar

I get the apparent impression that opposition to Mugabe is united. Let us pray and hope that when he does eventually go the present opposition will remain united for the benefit of everyone in Zimbabwe and not start squabling or even fighting among themselves.
Derekap
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
tomais

Been in e-mail contact with Harere; all is nervous,especially with the scalpel knife edge of Gono banking, inflation,( 2,200 ? rising).
See Zimbabwe news Papers on line. click on Herald, the government paper.
The Zimbabwean,( bottom of thelisted papers) is published in Southampton for a balaned view.
Wilf Mbanga editor with experience of beng ejected from Zim.
Catholic Bishops in Zim very strong.
Mgabes Edinburgh doctorate still in balance; a few other honorary recipients have promised, not threatened to hand their back in if O'Shea does not move quickly.
Tomais
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
[auote=Independent Catholic News]

NAIROBI - 30 May 2007 - 280 words

Zimbabwe: Archbishop Ncube says churches will not be cowed by Mugabe


Zimbabweans are praying for an end to the 'autocratic' and 'brutal' regime of President Robert Mugabe that has brought untold suffering to the country, says outspoken Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo.

"There is a lot of prayer in Zimbabwe right now - praying of the rosary, night prayers to Our Lady for the country," the archbishop says in an interview to be published in the June-July issue of Inside the Vatican magazine.

The Archbishop says it was imperative for the bishops of Zimbabwe to write their Easter Pastoral Letter which blamed the crisis in the country on bad governance. Mugabe dismissed the letter as political nonsense.

"The situation of the people was becoming worse and worse. Among the young people, there was a growing anger and a growing sense of uncertainty and desperation. We were in the hands of a man who for 27-plus years had been autocratic and using his army to be brutal on the people," he said.

Archbishop Ncube says Mugabe's regime tries to intimidate the clergy for their solidarity with the people. "We were told: 'You keep to the Bible, to religious affairs, don,t comment on political matters. If you want to come into politics then give up your religious garb, and be a politician and then we will deal with you properly.'"

But the church will not be cowed, Archbishop Ncube says. . "We feel duty bound to stand with the people in a time when there is so much suffering; in times when the humanitarian situation of the people food wise, education-wise, health-wise, is getting worse and worse."

Source: CISA[/quote]

Why are Western Governments sitting back and doing nothing?
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Rose of York
Member Avatar
Administrator
Independent Catholic News
 
Zimbabwe: pro-government militia target Catholics in campaign of fear

The ruling party militia, comprising youths and veterans of Zimbabwe's war of independence, are intimidating Catholics in rural areas, a United Nations humanitarian news agency reports.

The aim of the attacks is to stop the distribution of a pastoral letter denouncing President Robert Mugabe's rule. The Catholic bishops published the letter at Easter, but some rural parishes have still not received it.

Mugabe has dismissed the document (which received the backing of Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic bishops from around the world) as political nonsense. He told the New African magazine that in issuing the letter the bishops had chosen for themselves "quite a dangerous path."

The Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, said the attacks by militias are part of a strategy of intimidation ahead of next year's presidential and parliamentary elections.

"The Green Bombers [militias from youth training centres] are being used to go around striking fear in voters so that, come next year, they will be forced to vote ZANU-PF," Archbishop Ncube told Integrated Regional Information Networks, IRIN.

Catholics are being harassed throughout the country, he said, recounting a recent incident in the south-western town of Plumtree in which he had prevented ZANU-PF militias from gate crashing a meeting he was holding with priests in the area.

He said a priest was subsequently arrested in Wedza, Mashonaland Central, for distributing the pastoral letter while members of his congregation were also detained for questioning by state security agents.

Pedzisayi Ruhanya, a representative of the umbrella organisation for Zimbabwean nongovernmental organisations, The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) and one of many human rights and church organisations condemning the harassment of Catholic parishioners, said the militias were responding to Mugabe,s tirade against the bishops.

"The situation is particularly disturbing when you take cognisance of the fact that the church is supposed to play a vital role as a watchdog against political and social repression, yet there are brutal attempts to undermine that," he said.

In Mashonaland East province, traditionally a ruling party stronghold, parishioners are opting to stay at home rather than attend church after militias threatened them for distributing the pastoral letter.

"They [militias] are accusing us of being members of the MDC [Movement for Democratic Change] and working to topple the government. It's no longer safe to worship because the militias treat you as enemies," said 55-year-old Tirivafi Haka, a lay church leader who declined to use his real name.

In Mutoko, Sheila Mukurazhizha, a 26-year-old youth leader, told IRIN about a similar pattern of intimidation. "Before the attacks on our members began, our church would record more than 200 people per service but now, hardly 50 people turn up on Sundays."

The church has responded to the tactics of the militias by issuing a statement: "We encourage every Zimbabwean to read the pastoral letter as a guide to understanding the source of our suffering and let it inspire our prayers and actions. We call upon every Christian individual and organisation to commit themselves to the truth of God's word about the situation and it is only the truth that will set us free."

Source: CISA


It looks as though Mugabe is a coward. He dare not specifically target the Archbishop, so his men are harassing the laity.
Keep the Faith!

Offline Profile Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Archived Discussions · Next Topic »
Locked Topic