Johannesburg, South Africa, Apr 12, 2008 / 12:46 pm
The Catholic Church in Southern Africa has called for international mediation to end a political stalemate in Zimbabwe, accusing President Robert Mugabe’s government of lack of respect for the democratic process. Mugabe’s regime has delayed the release of the results of the March 29 presidential vote causing the opposition to suspect tampering.
Regional heads of state have scheduled a Saturday meeting to address the crisis, and a leading Catholic bishop has called for a leader like former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to mediate between the conflicting Zimbabwean factions.
On Thursday, Archbishop of Johannesburg Buti Tlagale, OMI, who is also president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, said the situation in Zimbabwe had become a matter of regional, continental, and international concern.
“As President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference and on behalf of the Catholic Community in Southern Africa, I call on the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to act swiftly to diffuse this tension by mandating a mediator of sufficient international repute, such as Kofi Annan, to ensure a solution that is acceptable to all Zimbabweans.”