ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
‘A voice for the voiceless’
More eyewitness accounts of terror from Zimbabwe & a message of support from Zambia
June 26th 2008

Update on an MDC activist who is in hiding in Harare, Zimbabwe...................

Yesterday she decided to go back to check on her house following the threats
that Zanu-PF Youth would burn it down. Her house was all right, but her teenage
son, left to look after the chickens, was out of food. So far he has managed to
escape the all night forced jogging which is meted out to non Zanu-PF Youth. By
the middle of the day the Youth were going round the township, banging on doors
forcing the people to come to another rally. This began about 2.00pm. The people
were told that everyone must vote, while in the booth they must make a note of
the serial number of their voting paper. This information must be handed over to
the Zanu-PF Polling Agent as they left the polling station. When the votes were
counted anyone voting for the opposition,or spoiling their paper, would 'be in
for it.' There will be no protection from MDC Polling agents as they have been
pulled out because of the risk to their lives. Later they said anyone voting for
the MDC would be killed and burial would not be allowed.

After this an MDC lady of about 50 was dragged into the middle of the stadium,
made to lie on her face, and viciously beaten. A whip had been made out of
tyres, and the rubber edges were sharp. This lady was below my informant in the
party hierarchy. At the end she was told to get up and go, but could not do so.
It was shouted out that anyone who helped her would get the same treatment.
During the meeting others were taken to 'a special place for beating.'
9-11 year old chidren were also taken there and asked if they knew whether
their parents, or anyone else was MDC.

No one was allowed to leave the meeting which went on till it was dark.

When my friend eventually got to her 'safe house', she had a call from her
neighbour to say that her house had been visited again and 10 Kg of mealie meal
and $10 billion demanded. The neighbour paid up for her.

Today the neighbour has rung again to say that the canvas wall of her home had
been slashed in the night, and some of her things were scattered around her
yard.

She remains defiantly a MDC supporter.

What next?
________________________________________
ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that even though Morgan Tsvangerai has wisely pulled out of the Zimbabwe ‘elections’ in order to save his people from more injury and death – the violence now goes on under its own unstoppable anarchic momentum.

It is good that Nelson Madelea has now spoken, accusing President Robert Mugabe of ‘a tragic failure of leadership’. Mandela’s standing as a world leader is immense and contrasts with the unbelievable intentions of Anglo-American the London based mining giant to invest £200 million GB pounds into a platinum mine in Zimbabwe. Their address is: Anglo-American PLC
20 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AN - letters of protest will no doubt be unwelcome.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that any such investment at the present time will simply put money into the pocket of the Mugabe regime to enable it to continue to finance terror. We will also publish the names and address of any banks or finance houses we can find who are currently trafficking money for the regime through London, or New York. British American Tobacco and Barclays Bank also have operations in Zimbabwe – (they say they are remaining for the good of their employees) as do BP and Shell (who are reviewing their presence in the country) these Western firms should be held up to public scrutiny as should Chinese investment which seems to have no concern for human rights at all but an enthusiasm for mineral rights that knows no bounds – there are currently 70 fully armed Chinese soldiers in Harare at this time.

All of this support for the Mugabe regime and the (still not renounced) continued backing of former Archbishop Bernard Malango of the Anglican Central African Province. Malango is now living comfortably in his brand new home in Lilongwe, Malawi – source of funding unknown. He is still creeping around the Diocese of Lake Malawi pretending that the situation regarding the Church in Zimbabwe has nothing to do with him – apparently he has become shy of reminders that it was he who got Kunonga elected, who spared him from a serious court case and who is still his close friend. Malango can be a nasty piece of work when cornered (the other bishops say feebly ‘he’s not a man to say no to’ ) - so caution is advised.
________________________________________
The Anglican Diocese of Harare, Zimbawe

Meanwhile amidst the gloom some cheering and well-deserved support for Bishop Sebastian Bakare who is still working in the front line trying to regain the diocese of Harare from Mugabe mouthpiece, excommunicated protégé of still as yet unexcommunicated Bernard Malango - ‘Archbishop’ Nolbert Kunonga.
From loyal Anglican seminarians – St John’s Anglican Seminary, Zambia - an extract from their letter which they have asked us to publish.

‘Dearest Bishop Bakare,

It is with great faith that we the Seminarians at St John’s Anglican Seminary are praying to God for both the Church and you our beloved Bishop on the trying moments you are passing through. We have not only shared with you the Seminary life at St John’s but the pain of being a believer in God and trying to help save the Church from the hands of those that persecute it. St John’s Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia has constantly prayed that God may help the Church in Zimbabwe. Even as the people shall bravely go to vote (written just before the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangerai’s candidacy) may the grace of God go with them and help them to be decisive and courageous.

“God may you look upon the nation of Zimbabwe with mercy.......... May the enemies of your will and word over Zimbabwe never triumph – may the blood of those who have died reach you and cry for help.”

To our beloved Bishop we pray that you shall not tire but be strengthened by God day by day. Remember we will always be wit you in spirit – may God bless you.’

From: The Student Body

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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
‘A voice for the voiceless’

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