Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe should step down and allow someone else to rule, according to Dr John Sentamu, the Anglican Archbishop of York.
In an interview with Christian news outlet Premier in the UK, Dr Sentamu, a long-time vocal critic of the Zimbabwean President whom he describes as eloquent and educated, said that Mr Mugabe has been “corrupted” and should step down.
“[H]e has been corrupted by his absolute power and I would say for the sake of Zimbabwe…step down while there is time and allow someone else to take over Zimbabwe and rule it so that there will be no violent coup which actually again will drive people more and more into difficulty…” he said. “You’ve had your innings, please just step down for the sake of Zimbabwe.”
Dr Sentamu said the country was not a “rock” as its name suggested, but had become “rubble”.
Dr Sentamu has previously described Mr Mugabe as the “worst kind of dictator” and in 2007 cut up his ‘dog collar’ on live television and said he would not wear the Anglican symbol of office until he was no longer in power.
There has been increasing unrest over Mr Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe in recent weeks including mass demonstrations, the biggest the country has seen in years, and a nationwide strike. There is reportedly widespread dissatisfaction with the level of corruption in a country that is facing an ongoing economic crisis.
