Caritas, the major Catholic Charity, has been forced to suspend its work in Zimbabwe following the brutality meted out to opponents of the government. Caritas has worked with the victims of Mugabe's forced "slum clearances" and concentrates on children, women and the most vulnerable. They have been feeding one million Zimbabweans direct, and their projects in the country have assisted a further two million. Now Mugabe's thuggery has driven out those who want to help.
The moral vacuum displayed by the UN and the so-called "international community" over Zimbabwe has come under strong criticism from the archbishops. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference stated ""Quiet Diplomacy" is not feeding the people, but allowing the current structures to threaten the very survival of the extremely vulnerable." The bishops urged the Zimbabwean government to work with relief agencies from all religions, amongst others.
And indeed, as a Catholic myself I wonder if the tragedy in Zimbabwe does not belie the phrase "international community". Is there, in fact, an international community? Because nobody, including Zimbabwe's nearest neighbours or the U.N., appears to care. Kane's shrug from Genesis hangs heavy in the air. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
As three million Zimbabweans are deprived, at gunpoint, of church-led aid, the UN's answer appears to be "No".
