Ex-bishop spreads sanction myth

Led by Kunonga’s wife Agatha, the Anglican Church of Zimbabwe Mother’s Union (ACZMU) is forcing its members the so-called anti-sanctions petition.

Celebrating the annual Zuva raMaria (The day of Mary) at the Anglican Cathedral in Harare, the blue and white clad mothers sang Anglican hymns with occasional Zanu (PF) slogans as they claimed to be praying for the country.

President of the ACZMU, Agatha Kunonga, told the gathering that sanctions were causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe hence their initiative to join in petition signing.

“The sanctions have affected every Zimbabwean regardless of political affiliation. They have also hit hard on all sectors of the economy, ranging from agriculture industry, tourism and even sport; so this calls for collective denouncement of the sanctions,” she said.

Agatha repeated the anti-sanctions mantra. In reality there are no sanctions on Zimbabwe but restrictive measures on Mugabe and his cronies. Mugabe and his comrades are restricted from making shopping trips to London on the grounds of gross human rights violations.

Kunonga is engaged in a row with the official Bishop Chad Gandiya appointed by the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) which is the highest authority of the congregation.

Kunonga is a die hard supporter of Zanu (PF) and was excommunicated by the Anglican Church in May 2008. He has, however, refused to vacate the church premise of the St Mary’s Cathedral and has used his political power through the police to harass pro-Gandiya church members.

MDC-T activist, Oliver Chikumba, was arrested for allegedly refusing to sign Zanu-(PF)s anti-sanctions campaign. Oliver, who is an executive for MDC-T Hwange Central District, was picked up in Hwange on Saturday by Darlington Nhova, a suspected Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officer.

Before his arrest, Olivers is alleged to have said that signing the petition should not be compulsory. Zanu (PF) should instead invite the nation to participate in the campaign.

ZAPU and the two MDC parties have castigated the campaign saying Zanu (PF) is simply trying to gauge its popularity ahead of next years national elections.