Archbishop says Britain could invade Zimbabwe

London, England, Jul 2, 2007 / 06:52 am

Britain would be justified to invade Zimbabwe to remove president Robert Mugabe, said Archbishop Pius Ncube, a leading Zimbabwean cleric.

Archbishop Ncube told London's Sunday Times that the deepening destitution in the former British colony, including millions going hungry and the world's highest inflation rate, meant Britain would be right to act.

Zimbabwe once had one of the strongest economies in southern Africa. Its economy is now in ruins, with unemployment at 80 percent and life expectancy dropping to 37 years for men and 34 years for women.

The archbishop said Zimbabweans would oust Mugabe themselves, but they are too afraid. Archbishop Ncube said he would lead the people against Mugabe “guns blazing, but the people are not ready."

Archbishop Ncube said the president was squandering money while the people starved. He said Mugabe had just spent $2 million on surveillance equipment while most people struggled along on $2 a week.

In May, Mugabe dismissed repeated criticism from the country's bishops as "nonsense" and warned that his government might start treating the clergy as political enemies. In the past, Mugabe's government has branded Archbishop Ncube a Western agent.