By Nqobizitha Khumalo
BULAWAYO – Zimbabwean civic groups and political parties on Tuesday launched the Archbishop Pius Ncube Solidarity Coalition to help raise funds and counter government propaganda against the embattled cleric who is facing a Z$20 billion lawsuit for adultery.
The coalition, which is made up of about 30 civic groups, political parties, church groups and student movements, says it will offer spiritual and moral support to Ncube as he fights the damaging lawsuit.
In a statement released at the launch of the coalition at the City Hall in Bulawayo yesterday, the coalition said it was outraged by the manner in which the state media handled the Ncube affair.
The coalition said the coverage of the Ncube allegations by Zimbabwe’s state media was in clear violation of the country’s laws such as the Censorship Act, the Children’s Adoption and Protection Act as well as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
“The state contravened a number of its own laws which include among others the Censorship Act, AIPPA, Telecommunications Act, Children’s adoption Act and the Broadcasting Services Act.
“The coalition would like to register its unwavering support for all the democratic values that the Archbishop stands for. He is the voice of the voiceless who has distinguished himself in this struggle for a new democratic dispensation.
“We see this whole operation for what it is, that is to cow down democratic forces, silence dissenting views and divert attention from glaring misgovernance,” said the coalition.
Effie Ncube, the chairperson of the Ncube solidarity coalition said President Robert Mugabe’s government had a history of framing concocted charges against its political opponents citing the cases of Zimbabwe nationalists Joshua Nkomo and Ndabaningi Sithole who were falsely accused of plotting to topple the government.
“As a coalition, we strongly stand by Archbishop Pius Ncube and we are saying a political attack on the Archbishop will not solve the crisis in this country,” said Ncube.
The Zimbabwe government media has since last week been awash with lurid pictures and images of Ncube with Rosemary Sibanda, the woman at the centre of the lawsuit. Rosemary’s husband, Onesimus is suing Ncube accusing the archbishop of having an adulterous relationship with his wife. - ZimOnline
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3 comments:
I think Save Zimbabwe should get a life and let the Pius Solidarity coalition alone. Why the hell are they trying to get all the credit. People like Useni should take the back seat with certain issues. Why should everyone be a part of Save Zimbabwe, why can't Save Zimbabwe be a part of other groupings?
Congratulations to the people of Bulawayo for supporting their archbishop. He is one of the few patriotic Zimbabweans with the courage to speak out. I hope that his voice may not be silenced by the government's dirty tricks campaign. Indeed, I pray that it may inspire the entire population of Bulawayo, and Zimbabwe at large, with the courage to resist the oppression.
NFJSJuk.
Why turf wars over who speaks?
Let's just make our voices heard.
Sowing dissension among their opponents is ZANU-PF's favourite dirty trick - possibly more so than character assassination.
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