Bishop Bakare – Mugabe Has Caused Enough Suffering, Church Has Role To Play
31 August 2016
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Sebastian Bakare_1An interview with Bishop Dr. Sebastian Bakare currently in New Jersey, USA. Rt. Reverend Bakare is a retired former Bishop of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) dioceses of Harare and Manicaland.
Bakare an iconic figure in Zimbabwe is the convenor of the National Convergence Platform, brainchild behind the formation of the United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust ( UMMRT) where he is the current chairman and is a board member of many organizations.
An acclaimed author and academic, he still gets time to mentor several clergymen pursuing advanced university studies. He has also played a pivotal role with other bishops in facilitating that the last Government of National Unity (GNU) sees the light of day.
Bishop Bakare gives us a ‘Theological, Contextual Reflection on the current developments in Zimbabwe.
Sydney Barson caught up with Bishop Bakare and filed this interview.
SB: Good evening, we want you to give us theological reflection of the current realities in Zimbabwe, as a point of departure, we are in this crisis that seems unending, what is the church called to do in a crisis?
Bishop Bakare: The church can’t do much because it has been reacting all the time to events instead of being proactive
SB: What is the way to go Bishop, where do we place our hope, if not the church?
Bishop Bakare: The church has to rediscover its mission. In our case the church has missed a golden opportunity by being hesitant to speak on behalf of the people. Our hope is that what is happening now will lead us to where Zimbabwe ought to be going but of course without the church in the forefront.
SB: One of our many contemporary prophets recently said ‘anyone rejecting bond notes is rejecting God’s blessings’ What’s your take on these prophesies?
Bishop Bakare: I think that kind of a statement with the contempt it deserves. It has nothing to do with the gospel of Christ.
Bishop Bakare: It is a kind of church if one can call it that which one foot in mammon and the other in God. The two dont go together
SB: Last week we witnessed violent skirmishes in Harare during demonstrations organized by the MDC led by Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai and the crashing of the high court approved mega demo organized by NERA. In all incidences the police have been blamed for provoking peaceful protests, what can be done in this context? What options do citizens have?
Bishop Bakare: I think citizens have suffered long enough and have no option but to express themselves the way they are doing fully aware the police will always support the powers that —-. Of course Christians will always uphold the need for peaceful protest.
SB: You are a brainchild behind the National Convergence Platform, can you briefly unpack NCP?
Bishop Bakare: NCP is a non partisan all inclusive gathering of concerned Zimbabweans for consensus building and fostering solutions for national development
SB: Given our current scenario how do we tap into NCP or stand to benefit from it to address continued suffering of the masses?
Bishop Bakare: NCP is not a qick fix but invites concerned citizens of all walks of life regardless of social status to come together to forge a way forward in order to achieve positive sustainable solutions and develop democratic structures where everybody counts where there are no chefs and no povo but members of one family.
Bishop Bakare: This will create space for national dialogue and inclusive negotiations
SB: To what extent should the church be involved in politics?
Bishop Bakare: The church has nothing to do with party politics. But where church leaders have identified themselves with a particular party they have nothing to offer and have lost their prophetic voice. Peace and justice are central values of the gospel. The prophets of the old testament are our best examples and condemned the rulers of the day who were oppressive
SB: How should the church proceed from now to help rescue the country from further damage?
Dr. Bakare: The church should sit down and ask itself the best way to proclaim the gospel that brings about possibilities for nation building which may not be condoned by some politicians who are only there to serve themselves.
SB: Does the opposition have the stamina to change our situation or the civil society?
Bishop Bakare: This should be a combined effort because civil society and members of opposition parties are sharing similar concerns and would like to see a Zimbabwe where everyone lives a decent life.
SB :: It was my pleasure hosting you tonight Bishop, May God bless you I hope the diaspora are doing their part in the struggle for a better Zimbabwe. Thank you so much.
Bishop Bakare: Welcome. Please keep at it. You are on the commendable right track.
ENDS.