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Kunonga was consecrated as bishop on April 29, when Neill was abroad visiting a sick relative. Asked by ENI if he would have attended the ceremony, he said: "No. It happened conveniently when I was away. Canon law was broken implicitly. While the law does not specifically make reference to racism and slander, it is implied that the church cannot do its business when those things exist."

Neill said he could not remain as a member of the Anglican church in Zimbabwe. "For a bishop and a priest to function, there must be canonical obedience. When that no longer exists then there is a problem.

"I am not resigning from the Anglican church, but I am going into 'exile' from it in Zimbabwe. I would like to stay here, without ties to the Anglican church, and fight for justice. [And] there is a possibility of an Anglican job in England."

He said his biggest disappointment with the Anglican church was that it had remained silent in the face of serious human rights violations. Neill had been one of the most vocal members of the church, at times running into trouble with the government's Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).

Neill added that the land issue had been tainted by racism. "What the government is doing is xenophobic, motivated by an anti-white theory—that whites want to bring down the Zanu PF government."

The clergyman is a member of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a civic group pushing for the introduction of a new democratic constitution in Zimbabwe.

His parish has also served as a venue for meetings of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He said he had offered the church hall to MDC, Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) on condition the three political parties renounced violence. "MDC renounced violence, Zanu PF did not do so, and ZUD did not respond to the offer," said Neill. "Zanu PF will not use the hall as long as I am still there."

Last year St Luke's church was stoned after Neill, through the NCA, distributed red cards bearing the message: "Mugabe Must Go Now!"

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

Kunonga caused a stir last month when he praised Mugabe and condemned the president's critics.

Other Christianity Today articles about Zimbabwe include:

Zimbabwean Archbishop Warns That Church Must Stand Against Injustice | Article in church newspaper is thinly veiled criticism of Mugabe government (June 5, 2001)

Church School Used to Train Militias, Zimbabwe Politician Says | Youths reportedly instructed in political violence techniques in run-up to election (June 5, 2001)

Zimbabwe Christians 'Outraged' at Police Role in Student's Death | Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace calls for peace as students demonstrate over low grants. (Apr. 23, 2001)

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)

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45