Zimbabwe: Catholic archbishop scoops humanitarian award

An outspoken Zimbabwean archbishop has been given an humanitarian award for his unstinting courage and determination in the fight for human rights.

Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo has been a fierce critic of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party. On receiving The Robert Burns International Humanitarian Award on 20 May, given in memory of the Scottish poet, he dedicated it to all the Zimbabweans who are persecuted in their country.

He said: 'I feel from the bottom of my heart that I don't deserve this award but I accept it on behalf of those in Zimbabwe whose suffering is unabated and whose struggle continues.'

Archbishop Ncube continued: 'I say I am undeserving because the cause for justice, rule of law, the respect for human rights and decent living, have not been realised yet in Zimbabwe. The President of Zimbabwe is also called Robert, like the celebrated Scottish Poet Robert Burns - yet he is lacking in compassion and feeling for others, unlike the poet, who was a compassionate and considerate man.'

He then described the situation in Zimbabwe and told how daily life has worsened for ordinary people.

He added: 'Mugabe has rigged three elections to his advantage since the year 2000, he has banned four newspapers and all media is reduced to propaganda. The people are hounded by state intelligence, and the police and the president use torture to intimidate the people and keep them afraid.'

Archbishop Ncube said it saddened him that the British Government has, since September last year, embarked on the forced repatriation of Zimbabwean asylum seekers. He called on the UK Government to 'be patient with Zimbabweans until the situation normalises.'

CIIR/ICD advocacy coordinator for Africa, Dr Steve Kibble, said: 'Archbishop Pius has been a courageous, consistent and principled critic of the excesses of the Mugabe regime, despite many threats and denunciations. He continues to inspire the loyalty of ordinary Zimbabweans who often feel let down by their churches' failure to provide leadership in times of great hardship and repression.'