Bishop Peter Price reflects on a visit to Africa where Zimbabwe churches stand up to Mugabe

The state of the poorest is the surest indicator of the health of a nation. During my recent visit to Zimbabwe I witnessed hunger for the first time since the great drought of 1992.

People in Zimbabwe should not be hungry. But in the High Density Townships outside Harare I joined a small group of volunteers delivering mealie meal to the most vulnerable poor. Mealie flour is the staple diet of the poor, along with soya. Its price has risen ten fold in the past six months, and it will continue to rise. At grassroots level the Church is tackling these realities with many small projects providing basic resources for such people.

In his sermon at the consecration of the new Bishop of Matabeleland, Sebastian Bakare, the Bishop of Manicaland pointed his finger directly at the government as the cause of this dire situation. He criticised those "whose actions crush the people and grind the face of the poor. Their deeds affront God, their complacency bears witness against them".

His remarks were made several days before the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference issued a further challenge to the government ... 'Violence, intimidation and threats are the tools of failed politicians. We must point out to them that they are engaging in unjust activity. We look upon those who hold public office to put an end to what is happening'.

In my conversation with the Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube, he told me of the threats that had been made against him since he took his courageous personal stance some months ago calling on the government to 'stop the intimidation'.

Many other priests spoke to me visits from the Zimbabwean Central intelligence Office advising them of the danger if they did not keep quiet. One older priest told me that he was "very frightened."

There is little doubt that these people are in real danger for their lives, but Pius Ncube spoke in words not un-reminiscent of Oscar Romero, when he said, "I am going nowhere. I am staying here with my people."

The bench of bishops in Zimbabwe is new. Three, the Bishops of Central Zimbabwe, Matabeleland and Manicaland are very aware of the real situation. However, concern is being expressed over the new Bishop of Harare who is seen as a something of a puppet of the Mugabe government, and recent speeches by him indicate that there will be a need for real discernment as to what his agenda is.

Our chief responsibility is to pray for all who are seeking to lead God's people in Zimbabwe at the present, and to trust that people in authority will come to their senses before a humanitarian disaster overcomes the nation along with economic and political meltdown.

More on Zimbabwe:

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• Zimbabwe... here we come!