Zimbabwe Government Under Attack For Labeling Catholic Bishops

August 17, 2020

Harare-The Zimbabwean Government has come under attack after labeling the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference ‘evil minded’ for criticizing alleged human rights violations in the country.

In a statement the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said they were concerned with the government’s intolerance.

“As ZLHR, we are greatly concerned that the intolerance of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on dissent and criticism is becoming more despicable every passing day and we should realise that it is the manifestation of President Mnangagwa’s and his followers’ fear on the people’s legitimate dissatisfaction from a leader who claimed and promised to be a “listening” President which is equally growing,” read the statement

A political analyst, Oswald Nhemachena said the Government was in denial and creating more enemies than friends.

“What we are seeing is that the regime is in denial and cannot admit its failures. Instead of engaging those clamoring for peace they are labeling. It’s high time that President Mnangagwa and his team face reality. Criticizing the Bishops was the worst thing they have made.  ” said Nhemachena

With inflation running at more than 800% is the clearest sign of the worst economic crisis in over a decade and has evoked memories of hyperinflation under Robert Mugabe, whose 37-year rule was ended by an army coup in 2017.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference said in a pastoral letter that the country had a multi-layered crisis, including economic collapse, deepening poverty, corruption and human rights abuses.

Fear runs down the spine of many of our people today. The crackdown on dissent is unprecedented,” the bishops said in the letter, read out at Catholic churches on Sunday.