LETTER FROM A CATHOLIC PRIEST ON ZIMBABWEAN

UNCLAS HARARE 003095 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR AF PDAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN, AF/S DIRECTOR RENDER, ZIMBABWE DESK OFFICER GURNEY ROME PASS TO VATICAN FOR AMBASSADOR BOGGS FROM AMBASSADOR MCDONALD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VT ZI SUBJECT: LETTER FROM A CATHOLIC PRIEST ON ZIMBABWEAN POLITICAL VIOLENCE DEAR LINDY: UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 03095 081541Z THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER PROVIDED TO US BY A MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE, (MDC) (THE MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTY), ACTIVIST THAT WAS SENT FROM A CATHOLIC PARISH PRIEST TO A ZANU-PF PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE, MR. PHILLIP CHIYANGWA, URGING HIM TO HELP STOP THE ONGOING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE AND CRITICIZING HIM FOR HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE IT WITH VATICAN OFFICIALS, BUT PROTECT THE PRIEST'S NAME, AS YOU URGE THEM TO BE HELPFUL ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUING DIALOGUE ON THIS MATTER. BEST REGARDS, TOM BEGIN TEXT: DEAR MR. CHIYANGWA, I AM WRITING TO YOU AS THE CATHOLIC PRIEST OF BANKET, A PLACE IN YOUR FUTURE CONSTITUENCY. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MEETING WHICH YOU HELD IN KUWADZANA TOWNSHIP ON FRIDAY 19TH MAY, 2000 IN THE KUWADZANA HALL. A NUMBER OF OUR PARISHIONERS AND CHRISTIANS FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SPEECH AND THE WAY YOU ADVOCATED VIOLENCE, DESTRUCTION AND HATRED AMONG OUR PEOPLE. YOU HAD BEEN SAYING THAT IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A MEMBER OF ANOTHER PARTY (YOU MENTIONED THE MDC) "KILL HIM". YOU ENCOURAGED THE DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY (PTC) WHICH IS THERE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE OF BANKET ARE PEACEFUL PEOPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF COLOR, CREEO OR POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE, WHO WANT TO WORK UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 03095 081541Z TOGETHER ANO BUILO UP THE COUNTRY. YOUR AIM SEEMS TO BE THE OPPOSITE. YOUR SPEECH HAS MAOE MANY PEOPLE VERY SAO, BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FIGHT A CIVIL WAR, A WAR OF MURDER ANO OESTRUCTION. MOST OF YOUR LISTENERS ARE CHRISTIANS. REMEMBER, THEY KNOW THE COMMANDMENT "THOU SHALT NOT KILL". MOST OF YOUR LISTENERS RESPECT THE TRADITIONAL VALUES OF THEIR FOREFATHERS, FOR WHICH MURDER WAS A CRIME. THEY STILL CLING TO THE IDEA OF HUMAN INTEGRITY (IN SHONA "UNHU"). WE ARE VERY WORRIED THAT THESE VALUES ARE BEING DESTROYED THESE DAYS AND ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR ATTACK ON HUMAN DIGNITY ON FRIDAY 19TH MAY, IN THE KUWADZANA HALL. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED WILL YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE CONSTITUENCY OR ONLY TO THE MEMBERS OF YOUR PARTY? THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL WHO VOTE, BECAUSE WE WANT MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT WHO INTEGRATE A COMMUNITY AND NOT THOSE WHO DIVIDE, INTIMIDATE AND EVEN ENCOURAGE LAWLESSNESS. WE ARE PRAYING DAILY IN OUR CONGREGATION FOR PEACE AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND OR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF ALL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE PRAY ALSO FOR YOU, THAT YOU MAY REALIZE WHAT THE TRUE VALUES ARE. I AM NOT WRITING AS A POLITICIAN TO YOU BUT AS A PRIEST, WHO HAS THE GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AT HEART. YOURS SINCERELY, ¶W. THAMM SJ PARISH PRIEST, BANKET UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 0