President Robert Mugabe’s administration has been warned of impending civil unrest if he does not urgently address the current instability in the country.
Source: Churches warn Mugabe of civil unrest – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 21, 2016
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
In a scathing joint statement yesterday, several church organisations — the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Catholic Bishops Conference, Habakkuk Trust and Christian Alliance — lashed out at Mugabe’s brutal reaction to the #ThisFlag campaign led by cleric Evan Mawarire.
“These grievances must be viewed as the early warning signs, which indicate underlying and simmering tensions that will soon explode into civil unrest if not addressed. We call upon the government to immediately investigate and prosecute law enforcement agents that are alleged to have brutalised people. The government should also urgently act and address these genuine concerns of the citizens to avoid total collapse of the State,” the church groups said.
They further said Zimbabweans had lost confidence in Mugabe’s rule.
“Given all this, citizens have lost confidence and trust in our government. Therefore, there is urgent need for national dialogue between the government and different national stakeholders, towards finding a lasting solution than to ignore, politicise people’s genuine grievances and label them as opposition or demonise and harass the church and her leaders,” the statement said.
“We raise concern on growing harassment and arrests of religious leaders, such as the recent arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire, and also the intimidation of other pastors speaking on behalf of powerless people.”
Mugabe seemed to stoke anti-Mawarire sentiments while addressing mourners at the burial of national hero, Charles Utete on Tuesday and accused the #ThisFlag founder of being foreign-funded.
COMMENTS
You Know the real problem is that the aged government are not moving with the youngsters of the world, the world moves too fast for us oldies and we need to relinquish control to younger minds whose future is in their hands not ours as oldies.
young people need to take control now while they can be guided by us oldies but that they can use their wolrd wide knowledge to run the country.
AND THATS THE REAL PROBLEM OLDIES DONT WANT TO RETIRE AND HAND OVER THE REINS, WE HAVE HAD OUR CHANCE AND AS WE SIT IN THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE WE NEED YOUNGER MORE ABLE PEOPLE TO FORGE THIER FUTURE.
THATS WHY YOUNGER GENERATION EXISTS.
I cannot see this government/zanupf sit down and talk to any one. They are too arrogant and corrupt and have had their own way for 36 years now, so I am afraid it is going to be protesting until this evil regime is chased out of this country never to be seen again.
I have deep respect for my brother in Christ, Evan, and I believe his stand is not his own idea or mission but I see it truly as the will of God and the knife has start to cut and we need to stand firm as the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeing who he can destroy and devour and we through the power of the Holy Spirit can bring this country back from the pit of hell. We need to rise up and be counted, and commit this country to the Lord for His Glory.