Rachel Quinn University of Oregon rquinn@uoregon.edu

SW Radio Africa (London) 12 May 2008 Posted to the web 12 May 2008 Lance Guma Zimbabwe: Police Beat Up And Evict Anglican Parishioners I am dumb founded at the idea that police would interrogate people within a church. It is very surreal, but proves to be very true in the U.S as well, especially during the civil rights era. As Martin Luther King and his followers were interrogated in similar ways. History tends to repeat it ways, maybe a different reason, but both with the same reaction. The act of disrupting or burning down a spiritual and/or religious place is unethical. It is important to know that our police are there to protect us, and it worries me to see that even within the church you must fear those who are there to protect you. It is sad to see a religious service be interrupted because of political scandal and confrontation. Although I am not familiar as some may be with the background to the problem of Kunonga and Bakare, I see here religion being a means of conflict instead of a means of unity. Not only in this incident but in others as well religion has been used in making divides between people, when it should be breaking them. Fear and violent tactics are being used against Kunonga’s opponents, which I don’t believe is an ethical way of resolving the issue. Political scandal seems to be a reoccurring theme of all places, which is sometimes inevitable. Although to me it is a problem when it affects worshipers save haven, a place of worship.

rachel, I am not sure where you are from but I agree this is very bad that the so called police are beating on people within the church but whether they are inside the church or outside well this shows that Mugabe has no love or care of the country of Zimbabwe. They know that once they leave office they are out of a job and maybe headed to prison so they are doing all they can to stay in office. This election was a joke and so will the run off election will be the same thing. Africa stand up for Zimbabwe and please I have heard enough words which has helped no one but Mugabe. Yes I hear we must do this through peaceful talks well with a person such as Mugabe and his regime he needs to be helped out of office by his choice or by force that would be his decision.

Rachel as far as the comment on the US and the civil rights era well this happening in Zimbabwe is in no way related to that...The police in Zimbabwe are beating anyone who does not support Mugabe and has nothing to do with white or black persons!

Rachel, I'm a former Duck too (never graduated from the U of O though). I've been following the Zim story for a long time, and it's gotten more and more surreal until now I can hardly believe what's been going on. Unfortunately, much worse has happened in the Cathedral of St Mary; on one Sunday, former Bishop Kunonga disrupted the service himself and threw the communion vessels to the floor and sat, glaring at the parishioners. He's been squatting there ever since.

It's a sad story, but there's hope too. There are a number of expatrriate activists who are using the Web to get the word out about atrocities in Zimbabwe, and to help organize support for reform from within the country and from outside it as well.

THE ZIMBABWEAN SITUATION SHOULD BE CONTROLLED NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zimbabweans need to petition emabssies of the AU and SADC wherever they are to let peace keepers get into the country NOW. With all this intimidation, torture maimimg killing how will these thugs be disarmed if not by external neutral forces?