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From
Independent Catholic News, 22 November at
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/zimdar532.html |
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More die in
a week in Zimbabwe than in Darfur says Archbishop Ncube in London |
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Archbishop
Pius Ncube of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe says that the humanitarian situation in
his country is critical. Each week an estimated 3,500 Zimbabweans die from a
unique convergence of malnutrition, poverty and AIDS. The figure suggests
that far from the media spotlight, more people die in Zimbabwe each week
than in Darfur.
The World
Health Organisation figures released earlier this year place life expectancy
in Zimbabwe at 34 for women and 37 for men. This is the lowest in the world.
In comparison, life expectancy in Iraq for men is 51 and for women it is 61.
Archbishop Ncube says that although Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV
infection rates on earth, with over 24% of the population infected, these
life expectancy figures cannot just be blamed on AIDS.
Zimbabwe's neighbouring countries have the same incidence of Aids but their
life expectancy figures are better (some substantially better). For example,
life expectancy in South Africa is 47 for men and 49 for women.
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Archbishop
Ncube said, "Zimbabwe is not a nation at war. It used to be able to feed
itself and its neighbours. Zimbabwe used to have one of the highest life
expectancy rates in Africa, up with South Africa. Now hunger, illness and
desperation stalk our land. Cemeteries are filling up throughout the
country. But no blood is being spilt. People are just fading away, dying
quietly and being buried quietly with no fanfare - and so there is little
international media attention.
These deaths are largely preventable yet without significant
intervention, the situation threatens to develop into a humanitarian crisis
of biblical proportions. The UN has recently warned that 6.1 million
Zimbabweans now face starvation."
He says Zimbabwe has never been in such a dire socio-economic or
political position as that of the present. Inflation is 1000%, over 10 times
more than the next highest rate of Burma, where inflation stands at 70%. The
economy has shrunk by over 40% in the last six years. Between 1991 and 2003,
urban poverty trebled in
Zimbabwe.
Out of an adult population of around 5 million, an estimated 3 million -
70% of all people of employable age - have led into the Diaspora, notably to
South Africa. Archbishop Ncube is visiting London for meetings at the
Foreign Office and the Houses of Parliament. He hopes to raise awareness of
the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Zimbabwe. CAFOD works with the
Catholic Church in Zimbabwe providing humanitarian assistance to over 37,000
families. |
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