Zimbabwe’s government has dismissed a letter by Roman Catholic bishops highlighting corruption, poverty and human rights abuses. “There is no crisis, political or otherwise,” said Information Secretary Nick Mangwana. He accused the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s Conference of joining groups seeking “to manufacture crises”. The bishops had called for an urgent resolution to the country’s economic and political challenges. “The struggle in Zimbabwe, has resulted in a multi-layered crisis of convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity and human rights abuses,” said seven bishops from the Zimbabwe’s main cities andRead More

Tens of thousands of opponents of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have gathered in Minsk to protest against disputed elections. The “March for Freedom” in the centre of the capital comes amid growing anger over alleged poll-rigging and police violence at subsequent protests. Meanwhile, in an address to a smaller crowd of several thousand, Mr Lukashenko blasted opponents as “rats”. He called on supporters to defend their country and independence. The rival rallies were taking place after Russia agreed to offer security assistance in the case of external military threats toRead More