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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe critic in 'prophetic role' | Mugabe critic in 'prophetic role' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwean Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube says he accepts that his opposition to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe may cost him his life. | Zimbabwean Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube says he accepts that his opposition to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe may cost him his life. |
| "The church has a prophetic role to speak the truth when no-one else dares to," the Archbishop of Bulawayo told the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper. | "The church has a prophetic role to speak the truth when no-one else dares to," the Archbishop of Bulawayo told the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper. |
| Meanwhile, a crackdown on aid groups suspected of opposing the president has begun, state media reports. | Meanwhile, a crackdown on aid groups suspected of opposing the president has begun, state media reports. |
| All non-governmental organisations must now reapply for their licences. | All non-governmental organisations must now reapply for their licences. |
| Last month, the UN said that 1.4m Zimbabweans would need food aid this year, as harvests were only due to meet one-third of the country's requirements. | Last month, the UN said that 1.4m Zimbabweans would need food aid this year, as harvests were only due to meet one-third of the country's requirements. |
| Mr Mugabe blames the worsening economic crisis on a Western plot to remove him from power. | Mr Mugabe blames the worsening economic crisis on a Western plot to remove him from power. |
| Archbishop called for mass street protests in March and said people must be prepared to stand in front of "blazing guns" to force Mr Mugabe from power. | Archbishop called for mass street protests in March and said people must be prepared to stand in front of "blazing guns" to force Mr Mugabe from power. |
| Earlier this month, a two-day strike called by trade unions in protest about the worsening economic crisis was poorly observed. | Earlier this month, a two-day strike called by trade unions in protest about the worsening economic crisis was poorly observed. |
| Zimbabwe has the world's highest annual rate of inflation - 1,700% - and only one person in five is in full-time work. | Zimbabwe has the world's highest annual rate of inflation - 1,700% - and only one person in five is in full-time work. |
| Impatience | Impatience |
| "Mugabe is mad for power and he will cling to it even if it means destroying the economy and destroying Zimbabwe," Archbishop Ncube said. | "Mugabe is mad for power and he will cling to it even if it means destroying the economy and destroying Zimbabwe," Archbishop Ncube said. |
| During the Gukurahundi campaign, Pius Ncube witnessed the suffering and was desperate to speak out Profile: Turbulent archbishop | During the Gukurahundi campaign, Pius Ncube witnessed the suffering and was desperate to speak out Profile: Turbulent archbishop |
| As Zimbabwe marks 27 years of independence on Wednesday, the archbishop said many people are too depressed to go on living. | As Zimbabwe marks 27 years of independence on Wednesday, the archbishop said many people are too depressed to go on living. |
| "Mugabe is an evil man, a bully and a murderer. I will not be bullied or bought by him. | "Mugabe is an evil man, a bully and a murderer. I will not be bullied or bought by him. |
| "I accept that it may mean that I lose my life." | "I accept that it may mean that I lose my life." |
| The BBC's Grant Ferrett says the archbishop's impatience for change and defiance is a legacy of the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s, when Mr Mugabe attempted to stamp out potential threats to his new government. | The BBC's Grant Ferrett says the archbishop's impatience for change and defiance is a legacy of the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s, when Mr Mugabe attempted to stamp out potential threats to his new government. |
| An estimated 20,000 people were killed in Zimbabwe's southern Matabeleland region, most of them civilians. | An estimated 20,000 people were killed in Zimbabwe's southern Matabeleland region, most of them civilians. |
| As a young priest, he witnessed the suffering and was desperate to speak out, but his church superiors stopped him. | As a young priest, he witnessed the suffering and was desperate to speak out, but his church superiors stopped him. |
| Now that he is in charge, the archbishop is determined not to watch in silence again, our reporter says. | Now that he is in charge, the archbishop is determined not to watch in silence again, our reporter says. |
| 'Mushrooming' | 'Mushrooming' |
| Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu ordered the NGO crackdown, saying some organisations were using relief activities as a cover for an opposition-led campaign to overthrow the government. | |
| "Pro-opposition and Western organisations masquerading as relief agencies continue to mushroom," state radio quoted him as saying. | "Pro-opposition and Western organisations masquerading as relief agencies continue to mushroom," state radio quoted him as saying. |
| "The government has annulled the registration of all NGOs in order to screen out agents of imperialism from organisations working to uplift the wellbeing of the poor." | "The government has annulled the registration of all NGOs in order to screen out agents of imperialism from organisations working to uplift the wellbeing of the poor." |
| Last month, a prayer meeting in the capital, Harare, attended by opposition leaders and activists was broken up by police, leaving two people dead. | Last month, a prayer meeting in the capital, Harare, attended by opposition leaders and activists was broken up by police, leaving two people dead. |
| Scores of activists, including Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, were arrested and assaulted in police custody. | Scores of activists, including Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, were arrested and assaulted in police custody. |
| Archbishop Ncube also accused other African leaders of failing to exert pressure on Mr Mugabe to relinquish power. | Archbishop Ncube also accused other African leaders of failing to exert pressure on Mr Mugabe to relinquish power. |
| Southern African leaders have appointed South Africa President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between Mr Mugabe and the MDC party. | Southern African leaders have appointed South Africa President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between Mr Mugabe and the MDC party. |
| Over Easter, the country's bishops warned of a mass uprising unless free elections are held, in a letter pinned up in churches. | Over Easter, the country's bishops warned of a mass uprising unless free elections are held, in a letter pinned up in churches. |