Zimbabwe: Church offers to mediate after 12 killed in protests

Peaceful protesters were met with live ammunition

Source: Fides

Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe have had a meeting with Vice President Constatino Chiwenga to discuss the tensions and protests that have caused at least 12 deaths in recent weeks.

"I wouldn't want to get into details at this stage, but it was about getting clarification. It is the beginning of a process that I wouldn't want to pre-empt at the moment. It was simply to get an understanding on what provoked this situation and get answers why we are where we are and moving on, how government and the church can collaborate so that we move beyond this situation to a Zimbabwe we want", said Fr Fredrick Chiromba, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Zimbabwe.

The meeting, held on January 25, was attended by Mgr Michael Bhasera, Bishop of Masvingo and former President of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), who led the delegation on behalf of the current President, Mgr Robert Ndlovu, Archbishop of Harare, who was abroad.

Mgr Raymond Mupandasekwa, Bishop of Chinhoyi, Mgr Paul Horan, Bishop of Mutare and Mgr Rudolf Nyandoro, Bishop of Gokwe, were part of the delegation.

Representing the government, Vice President Chiwenga was assisted by the Minister of Defense Oppah Muchinguri and the Director of the Central Intelligence Organization Director, General Isaac Moyo.

The discussions, which lasted two hours, were described by Fr Chiromba, as "very friendly". "There is good will on both sides", he said.

According to police sources, more than 1,000 people have been arrested since January 14, when a three-day strike was called after President Emmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel prices overnight by more than 100 per cent. The demonstrations of protests have degenerated into violence and looting. On 29 January, hundreds of lawyers demonstrated on the streets to demand justice for those detained in prison.

President Mnangwagwa has appealed to political, religious and civil leaders "to put aside differences and get together to start national dialogue."

The President's appeal, however, has been greeted with scepticism by some opposition leaders and civil society who demanded that human rights violations must be stopped immediately and that unconditional demonstrators must be released unconditionally.

Fr Chiromba said: "The dialogue is still pending and much needed, there is so much polarization in the nation and the Church is best placed to mediate."