South African churches ask world not to recognize Mugabe presidency

Published: 2008-07-02

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- The South African Council of Churches has called on the international community not to recognize the presidency of Zimbabwe's longtime ruler, Robert Mugabe, who was sworn in for a sixth term after a runoff election in which he was the only candidate. The June 27 election was "neither free nor fair, therefore this presidency is illegitimate," the council said in a statement released June 30 by general secretary Eddie Makue in Johannesburg. "We call on African and other states of the world not to recognize the de facto presidency" of Mugabe, the council said. The council, of which the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference is a member, also called for sanctions against Zimbabwe. "While we recognize that further sanctions will hurt the poor and suffering Zimbabweans, we have come to the conclusion that the people of Zimbabwe are already burdened with untold suffering," the council said. "The time has come for all states to apply and intensify universal sanctions against Zimbabwe as part and parcel of the negotiations for power-sharing in Zimbabwe."

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