Last Updated: Saturday, 26 July 2003 ; herald
President, church leaders meet over political situation
Herald Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday met church leaders to discuss the political
situation in the country and other issues of mutual interest.
The meeting was an initiative of the church leaders who met the President in
his capacity as leader of Government and the ruling Zanu-PF.
President Mugabe’s delegation comprised Vice-President Msika, Zanu-PF
secretary for information and publicity Cde Nathan Shamuyarira and the
party’s national chairman and Minister of Special Affairs, Cde John Nkomo.
Representing the church were the Zimbabwe Council of Churches led by
Bishop Sebastin Bakare, the Catholic Bishops' Conference led by Bishop
Patrick Mutume and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe headed by Mr
Trevor Manhanga.
Cde Nkomo said the meeting went well and participants showed a desire to
bring normalcy to the political situation in the country.
He said the meeting showed Zimbabweans were able to solve their own
problems.
South African President Thabo Mbeki has been on record as saying
Zimbabweans should take a lead in resolving the problems facing their
country.
Cde Shamuyarira said Zanu-PF had so far held four meetings with church
leaders. He said yesterday’s meeting was important in that President
Mugabe participated.
"We wanted to interact with them to make sure they understood and were
informed of what Government was doing," said Cde Shamuyarira.
He said the church leaders offered to mediate between Zanu-PF and MDC
and engage the international community on behalf of Government.
"They are willing to tell the international community to stop interfering in the
country’s politics. They believe Zimbabweans have the capacity to solve
their own problems," said Cde Shamuyarira.
He said Cde Mugabe agreed to the church leaders’ proposals and
appreciated their initiative.
Mr Manhanga said the meeting was an earnest exchange of views and
discovered a number of areas for mutual co-operation.
Reverend Bakare said people should not expect instant results from the
meeting.
"Please do not hurry us. Do not expect a solution tomorrow. I know there
are people who want instant answers," he said.
Bishop Mutume said the church leaders have also met the MDC and would
continue the consultations.
Sources who attended the meeting said the church leaders inquired from the
President whether he had approved their mediation efforts.
But according to the sources Cde Mugabe told them they need not seek his
approval as it was within their right to help Zanu-PF and MDC to dialogue.
He pointed out that the Government and Zanu-PF had never been opposed
to dialogue but were concerned about the impediments caused by the MDC.
These included the opposition party’s refusal to recognise his re-election
and its subsequent challenging of his victory in the courts and the trial in
which MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is facing treason charges for
allegedly plotting to assassinate Cde Mugabe.
Other impediments were the fact that the MDC was not an indigenous
opposition party but one that was controlled by certain Western powers.
The sources however said the President welcomed the end to boycotting
Presidential addresses to Parliament by the MDC.
Cde Mugabe told the church leaders that he hoped this was a beginning of
new thinking within the MDC ranks and looked forward to brighter things to
come.
Mitayo Potosi
Mitayo Potosi
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