 Zimbabwean authorities have lashed out at Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo for criticisng President Robert Mugabe. Ncube in an interview had accused Mugabe of starving opposition supporters and using food aid as a weapon to buy votes ahead of Thursday's parliamentary elections. "He wants to cause the breakup of the unity of our country," said Labour Minister Paul Mangwana. "He is against the peace and stability that is prevailing in our country. I am not sure that he is still a man of God right now."
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Ruling ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira blasted Ncube, saying: "He is a mad, inveterate liar. He has been lying from the past two years. As an archbishop, we expect him to tell the truth." The archbishop has been a thorn in Mugabe's side over the past years, attacking the president's record on human rights and openly supporting the opposition in its bid to come to power. In an interview to a South African broadcaster, Ncube wished for Mugabe's demise. "If the Lord did take him away there would be a chance that people will live peacefully because as long as he is around, his cabinet ministers are so afraid that there will be no change," he said. |