Bulawayo — Archbishop Pius Ncube has revealed that in the early 1980s, he was very close to President Robert Mugabe, the man he now castigates and calls a "big African crook" .

The archbishop, who has single-handedly turned into a symbol of resistance against Mugabe's regime, on Thursday narrated to The Standard how his relationship with President Mugabe blossomed soon after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980.

"Each time Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo visited Bulawayo on business, we would shake hands and share words of wisdom.

Mugabe could also come to Bulawayo and talk to my mother in church and at times at rallies while in the company of the late Vice President Nkomo but he has turned into a big African crook. Even now I am failing to understand how the devil entered into Mugabe's mind, soul and heart because he has become a monster that is no longer controllable," says Archbishop Ncube, with undisguised passion.

The archbishop who has just recovered from a two week facial palsy, a disease that affected nerves of his face and caused serious weaknesses making it difficult for the clergyman to control his facial muscles is equally loathed by Mugabe who has attacked him on several occasions.

"You see young man, when Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, Mugabe was undoubtedly the African statesman everybody would have liked to meet, shake hands and perhaps have a photograph taken with him."

"He was such an honest leader, admirable, dynamic, caring and a crowd puller each time his Zanu PF party organised rallies around the country but things fell apart for him when he started ignoring people's grievances," said archbishop Ncube.

Archbishop Ncube says he started seeing Mugabe's dark side between 1980 and mid 1983 when he committed the unforgettable Matabeleland genocide using the notorious and merciless Fifth Brigade soldiers to kill people, innocent women and children.

He adds that Mugabe's evil doings are there for everyone to see and he is even trying to destroy the church. "Mugabe has gone around the country dividing the people of God by giving some church leaders the stolen land from the whites while others are deliberately left out," said Ncube.

The outspoken clergyman says very soon Mugabe will find himself at loggerheads with his creator if he continues sanctioning lawlessness in Zimbabwe.

"God said in His Holy Bible that you shall not kill, but Mugabe and his Cabinet continue to kill."

"The Bible further states that you shall not steal but Mugabe's Cabinet has stolen properties belonging to the white farmers who were forcibly removed from their land, that is breaking God's rules and commandments," he said .

He also pointed out that the media in Zimbabwe was not operating freely because of the draconian laws crafted by Mugabe's stooge-Moyo with a view to deny the nation the free flow of information.