Mugabe bans open-air prayer meetings
Friday, 23rd May 2008. 4:00pm

By: Judy West.

Church groups have complained that security forces in Zimbabwe have banned open-air prayer meetings, citing security laws.

The move comes ahead of next month’s presidential run-off, in an atmosphere of tension as fears continue to grow of a crackdown by state security forces on opponents of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

Today the challenger in the election, Morgan Tsvangarai, confirmed that he is to return to the country tomorrow, after nearly two months in exile. He has so far refused to return to Zimbabwe following reports of an assassination plot on him.

Now the churches are claiming that freedom to worship is being infringed with the latest ban. "We were told last week that churches are no longer allowed to hold prayer meetings in the open except on church premises," Pastor Useni Sibanda, a spokesperson for the group called Churches in Bulawayo, told Ecumenical News International.

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Can you give me sanctuary
I must find a place to hide
A place for me to hide

Can you find me soft asylum
I can't make it anymore
The Man is at the door

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