Sunday, July 17, 2005
Sure - Blame The Christians
The sure sign of a madman in charge of anything is paranoia. This story illustrates that to a "tee."
Zimbabwe sought Friday to discredit South African clergymen who have criticized its demolitions of shantytowns, with state media saying their visit to assess the drive was bankrolled by British intelligence.Mugabe is a true madman, but this story also illustrates one of the downsides of the actual governmental establishment of religion. (Rememeber, the Queen of England is the head of the Anglican Church) It gives just enough air of possibility to such charges that someone is going to buy them. That hurts the mission of Jesus, and that is a problem.
The South African church group, led by Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, said after its visit Monday it had seen victims of the crackdown living under inhumane conditions at a camp near Harare.
The clergymen also said they would urge local counterparts to speak more forcefully on the government campaign to tear down illegal shantytowns, which has left an estimated 300,000 people homeless and has been widely condemned at home and abroad.
The official Herald newspaper, citing government sources, denounced the visit as part of "the large campaign by Zimbabwe's detractors pushing for a regime change agenda in the country."
The Herald said it had been masterminded by a Harare-based British spy to keep the spotlight on President Robert Mugabe's government. A British embassy official said she could not immediately comment on the report.
