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Zimbabwe police arrest Anglican clergyman for public peace prayers
2002-044-2
2/20/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
The South African Press Association reports that Zimbabwean police on February 16 arrested 11 people, including an Anglican clergyman, at a meeting held in the western city of Bulawayo to pray for peace in the run-up to next month's presidential elections in Zimbabwe.
Church officials told the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in South Africa that the Rev. Noel Scott from the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe and other church leaders from all denominations were headed for regular prayer sessions when Scott was arrested.
An ACDP statement said that Scott had earlier asked for permission for the 'Peace Prayer Procession' but police denied him permission, citing what they called 'unruly elements' which could disrupt the session.
A SAPA correspondent reported that the church leaders were charged under security laws with 'disobeying the command of a police officer,' which carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
The ACDP said the Zimbabwean church leaders notified the party of the arrests in a letter which stated: 'What usually happens is that here in Hillside, the prayers begin at the Catholic Church, after a church service and prayers, everybody then walks on foot in procession to the next church which has been the Anglican Church.
'The procession, involving hundreds of people, then walks onto the next church which has been the Presbyterian Church. From there the final leg of the peace/prayer walk ends at the Methodist Church.'
After Scott was denied permission to lead the churchgoers to walk to various churches, the members decided to drive. Police then arrested Scott and charged him with failing to comply with the prohibition.
David Coltart, an MP in the city for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, told SAPA that the arrested were detained at the Bulawayo central police station.
The ACDP, however, said church leaders in Zimbabwe had been denied access to Scott, who has a heart condition which requires medication three times a day.
Those arrested along with Scott were: the Rev. Graham Shaw of the Methodist Church, the Rev. Kevin O' Doherty of the Roman Catholic Church, Peter Botright, Ron Marillier, Trevor Leonard, Palany Rojah, David Marolong, Barry Dickenson, as well as John Stakesby and his wife Joan, who are both teachers at Girls College.
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