Zimbabwe rejects Catholic bishops' criticism of corruption and abuse
Zimbabwe's government has dismissed a letter by Roman Catholic bishops highlighting corruption, poverty and human rights abuses.
"There is no crisis, political or otherwise," said
Information Secretary Nick Mangwana.
He accused the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop's Conference of
joining groups seeking "to manufacture crises".
The bishops had called for an urgent resolution to the
country's economic and political challenges.
"The struggle in Zimbabwe, has resulted in a
multi-layered crisis of convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty,
food insecurity and human rights abuses," said seven bishops from the
Zimbabwe's main cities and towns in a letter released on Friday.
"Corruption in the country has reached alarming
levels," they added.
Zimbabweans have been protesting against alleged government
corruption and a deepening economic crisis with inflation running at more than
700%.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has, however, blamed his
political opponents of working with foreigners to try to destabilise the
country. He called them "bad apples" and warned that he will
"flush" them out.
His government has recently attracted heavy criticism over a
crackdown targeting anti-government protesters which has resulted in several
people being assaulted and arrested.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin'ono was charged last
month with inciting public violence. He is still in detention after being
denied bail.
He had exposed alleged corruption in the health ministry
during the purchase of medical supplies to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Images of police assaulting protesters have been shared
online sparking a global campaign using the hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter to
highlight rights abuses.
"Fear runs down the spine of many of our people today.
The crackdown of dissent in unprecedented," the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop's
Conference said in their letter.
"Voices of various governments, the European Union, the
African Union, and the UN on the desperate situation in Zimbabwe have not only
confirmed the seriousness of the human rights breaches by government agents but
the need to rally behind #ZimbabweanLivesMatter," they said.
But writing in the state-owned The Herald newspaper, Mr
Mangwana defended the government.
"Zimbabwe, like most countries in the world, is
currently grappling with challenges attendant to illegal sanctions, drought and
the coronavirus pandemic," he said.
He said President Mnangagwa had demonstrated his commitment
to fight corruption, highlighting the arrest of high profile individuals and
strengthening of anti-corruption bodies.
The information secretary also said the bishops had ignored
the impact that close to two decades of economic sanctions had had on the
country.
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