Seeking a way forward in Zimbabwe

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a joint statement this morning concerning the deteriorating situation of ordinary people in Zimbabwe calling for "a civil society movement that both gives voice to those who demand an end to the mayhem that grows out of injustice, poverty, exclusion and violence."

The text is here, but the most arresting thing about the news release from the Anglican Communion Office is the note at the end:

Notes to Editors

The average life expectancy of Zimbabweans hovers around 35, lower than any war zone. Since 1994 it has fallen from 57 to 34 for women and from 54 to 37 for men.

Zimbabwe has the highest proportion of orphans in the world (1.3 million), largely due to the devastation caused by HIV and Aids.

AIDS related illnesses kill 3,200 people each week.

Posted by Jim Naughton on April 24, 2008 11:52 AM | |
Comments (2)

This two year old story is still relevant. It was Archbishop Bernard Malango, darling of the Anglican right, member of the panel that wrote the Windsor Report, who protected the pro-Mugabe Bishop of Harare. And, not surprisingly, when outsiders began to put pressure on the bishop, he blamed the gay lobby.

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/anglican_communion/bernard_malangos_strong_sense.php

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 24, 2008 2:30 PM

Turning up the pressure on President Robert Mugabe, the top United States envoy to Africa declared Zimbabwe's opposition leader the "clear victor" in the nation's disputed presidential election.

The diplomat, Jendayi Frazer, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said on Thursday that the election result removed the rationale for any negotiated settlement of Zimbabwe's political crisis that left Mugabe in charge, as was suggested this week in an editorial in the state-run newspaper, The Herald.

"This is a government rejecting the will of the people," she said, referring to the government's refusal to announce who won the presidential election last month, despite independent projections that placed the opposition ahead. "If they had voted for Mugabe the results would already have been announced. Everyone knows what time it is."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/25/africa/25zimbabwe.php

Posted by John B. Chilton [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 24, 2008 9:11 PM

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