2 of 2

Kevin Thompson, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Bulawayo, said Christians were outraged by the brutality of the police, including assaults by ZRP officers on members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Writing in the Daily News, a Harare newspaper, Thompson said: "Police officers masquerade as enforcers of justice and truth and defenders of the people of Zimbabwe, yet their compliance with their callous benefactors [the government] has lost them the respect of the nation."

Over the past few years, ZRP officers have been accused of human rights abuses as well as numerous "accidental" shootings of innocent civilians.

In 1998 policemen chasing suspected thieves fired into a crowd in the Harare city center, killing a fruit vendor and wounding a woman pedestrian. The incident touched off a wave of riots resulting in the destruction of buildings and vehicles, including a police car.

Also in 1998 police at a roadblock in Harare shot dead a woman in a commuter bus. The ZRP said the officer intended to shoot at a motorist who had tried to evade the roadblock, but the bullet ricocheted off the tarmac and hit the woman.

During a soccer match last year between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium, police fired tear-gas into the crowd, causing a stampede which left 13 people dead.

Human rights and civic groups have urged the ZRP to make intensive training in the proper use of firearms and handling, compulsory for its officers.

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Conscience, Not Violence, Must Rule Zimbabwe, Says Catholic Priest | Oskar Wermter warns that country is drifting into civil war. (Apr. 12, 2001)

War Veterans Occupy Church on Zimbabwean White-Owned Farm | "We just want to pray and leave politics alone," says evicted pastor. (Apr. 2, 2001)

Priest Horrified as Zimbabwe Politician Compared With 'Son of Man' | Incident is not the first such comparison in Zimbabwe politics. (Apr. 2, 2001)

Evangelicals Attempt to Defuse Crises | While decrying land redistribution program, president of Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe stepping down after financial dispute. (Mar. 22, 2001)

Catholic Clergy Concerned About Workers on Zimbabwe's White Farms | "This is no longer a free country," says Conference of Religious Superiors. (Mar. 22, 2001)

Clergyman Forced to Leave Zimbabwe After Criticizing Mugabe Government | Authorities revoke work permit of Presbyterian missionary who accused the government being involved in killings. (Mar. 19, 2001)

Zimbabwe Church Officials Tell Mugabe to Respect Judiciary and Rule of Law | Catholics, Baptists, and others criticize presidential pressure on Supreme Court. (Mar. 19, 2001)

Churches Call for Inquiry Into Zimbabwe's Pre-Election Violence | "In the meantime, accept the election results" says Zimbabwe Council of Churches (July 14, 2000)

Zimbabwe President's Party Refuses to Join Church-Sponsored Talks to End Violence | At least 10 dead in country's escalating political violence (May 2, 2000)

Evangelicals Abstain from Zimbabwe's Interfaith Body | Christian group opposes blending of Christianity and traditional African religion. (Apr. 18, 2000)

Church Council Urges Swift Resolution of Zimbabwe's Row over White Farms | Land redistribution must be done "in a systematic, just and transparent manner" (Mar. 23, 2000)

Zimbabwe's Black Anglican Priests Claim Exclusion at White Ceremonies | Four priests resign, alleging widespread racism (Nov. 24, 1999)

Gun-Toting Missionaries Given Light Sentences (Nov. 15, 1999)

Missionaries or Mercenaries? (May 24, 1999)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

April (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45