Hands off Ncube!

by Editor · February 5, 2003

At a time when confidence in the episcopal office has taken a knock because of the shortcomings of some bishops, Catholics will be inspired by the selfless example of Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo.

Faced with the thuggery of a brutish regime, Archbishop Ncube has taken the courageous route of speaking out for justice and truth in Zimbabwe, thereby becoming one of President Robert Mugabe�s fiercest domestic critics.

For this, the archbishop has been demonised by the Mugabe regime and the government media, and subjected to death threats and harassment by those who do Mr Mugabe�s bidding. For various reasons, the Church in Zimbabwe has not been unified in demonstrating full solidarity with the archbishop. Last month�s statement by Bulawayo�s diocesan clergy of support for their archbishop should therefore be seen as a brave and timely intervention.

When the post-Mugabe era finally dawns, Zimbabweans may well examine the Church�s record of opposing the injustices perpetrated by the present regime. Should this happen, those Catholics who have failed to speak out will be indebted to Archbishop Ncube (and others like him) for shining a beacon of light where there was darkness.

For his heroic prophetic witness, Archbishop Ncube deserves to be ranked among the Church�s great apostles of human rights, such as the martyred Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, the East Timoran Nobel peace laureate Bishop Felipe Belo, or (in apartheid South Africa) Archbishop Denis Hurley.

While the latter two survived their struggle for justice, many Catholics in Zimbabwe and beyond fear that Romero�s fate might find echo in that of Archbishop Ncube.

The notion that the Mugabe regime would not dare to harm the archbishop seems misplaced. Indeed, as King Henry II discovered after the murder of Thomas Becket, it requires no royal (or presidential) decree to inspire an assassination. Sustained vilification, as is happening in Archbishop Ncube�s case, may suffice to persuade a government loyalist that his masters would be well served by the violent elimination of its critics.

Without putting too fine a point on it: Archbishop Ncube needs protection, and that protection must come from within the Catholic Church and from the international community.

Presumably the Zimbabwean bishops and the nuncio to that country have privately communicated to Mr Mugabe that a consummation of the death threats against Archbishop Ncube would be unacceptable (and that Mr Mugabe should instruct his shock troops accordingly).

Protection, however, can come also by virtue of position. Archbishop Ncube�s reputation as a splendid pastoral leader aside, his elevation to the rank of cardinal would doubtlessly cement the Church�s mission for justice, and at the same time send an unequivocal message to the Mugabe regime: Hands off Archbishop Ncube!