A Zimbabwean ecumenical group this week supported the warning of Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, who feared rigged elections in the country would lead to a possible ?mass uprising? against the tyrannical rule of President Robert Mugabe?s rule.

?In our view he was right. We discern a deep sense of anger and resentment among the people [which] may sooner or later lead to violence,? Christians Together for Justice and Peace said in a a statement.

At a rally on Monday to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Zimbabwe?s independence, Mr Mugabe dismissed the Commonwealth as ?evil? and proclaimed himself one of Africa?s political saviours. Last month, he was the target of a chorus of condemnation for staging heavily rigged elections that handed his Zanu-PF party more than two-thirds of the seats in Zimbabwe?s parliament. He is expected to use that parliamentary stranglehold to amend Zimbabwe?s constitution to extend his presidency by a further three years. But as red carpets were rolled out in preparation for the arrival of African leaders for the independence celebrations this week, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, called on his supporters to resist President Mugabe?s rule, saying ?The people are even more embattled than before 18 April 1980.?

Mr Tsvangirai said the independence celebrations underlined the country?s economic and social poverty, and called for Zimbabwe?s 15 m. people, including 3.6 m. living abroad, to struggle against Mr Mugabe?s power.

?The 25 years merely registered a period of sustained economic decline,? he said. ?We have nothing to show for it except overwhelming poverty, a systematic loss of our basic freedoms and a national crisis. The forces of democracy are under siege. Only sustained democratic resistance and political pressure shall bring in the desired results.?

Mr Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe?s flawed elections had left the country at the mercy of ?a vampire and criminal clique?.

In his address this week Mr Mugabe insisted that the ?contented? people of Zimbabwe had no need of Western-style democracy. ?We have turned east ... and given our back to the West,? he told the crowd. He pointedly refused to mention the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who has repeatedly criticised Mr Mugabe?s human rights record over the past five years.
James Roberts