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Zimbabwe: Bishops denounce violent attacks on opposition


Source: Fides

The Catholic Bishops pf Zimbabwe have expressed their concern about the increase of violence in the country. In a Pastoral Letter in which they take stock of the political and social heritage of former President Robert Mugabe, who died in Singapore on September 6 at 95 years of age they say: "We are deeply concerned about the reported nocturnal visits by unknown masked men, beatings, torture, sexual assaults, abductions, harassment of dissenting voices and violent repression of demonstrations by Police."

Mugabe, considered the father of the Country for leading the struggle for national independence, was forced to resign in 2017 after more than 30 years of power that had become increasingly authoritarian and violent over time.

In denouncing the violence committed by the police of the new government, the Bishops stress: "such acts which contradict the positive narrative of Zimbabwe's Second Republic, have no place in a democratic society and there should be no impunity for those who commit these crimes" which cannot be justified in the name of an alleged social peace.

The Bishops recognise the successes achieved by Mugabe in the national liberation struggle but criticise the methods used to obtain greater justice.

"The intentions and goals were good, but the way to reach them raised a number of ethical issues. An evil action cannot be justified by a good intention", says the letter entitled: "The end does not justify the means."

Meanwhile, in the capital Harare, hundreds of doctors took to the streets yesterday, September 16, to protest the death of their union leader, Peter Magombeyi, at the head of the Association of Hospital Physicians (ZHDA), who died on September 14, the day of Mugabe's funeral. Since last year dozens of political activists and trade unionists have been kidnapped by suspected members of the security forces. Most were later released, but reported being mistreated.

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