Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The former Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has asked for forgiveness on behalf of South Africa for the recent xenophobic violence against foreigners. He was speaking on Monday, 9th June, at St Martin in the Fields, the famous London church on Trafalgar Square, where he blessed three Zimbabwean sculptures which have been positioned near a room named in his honour. Archbishop Tutu recalled that South Africans had taken refuge in other African countries during the apartheid years and said the attacks on foreigners were unacceptable. But on the positive side, South Africans had been horrified and many had been wonderful in offering help to the victims. Turning to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Tutu said it used to be a showpiece in Africa: “It has now turned into the most horrendous nightmare”. He called for a peacekeeping force to be sent to Zimbabwe and advised Mugabe: “How about stepping down? Oppression will not have the last word. Freedom will come to Zimbabwe.” Archbishop Tutu accepted a copy of a petition from the Zimbabwe Vigil which has been protesting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy every Saturday for the past 6 years. The petition calls on President Mbeki of South Africa to stop supporting Mugabe and allow a change of government in Zimbabwe so Zimbabwean exiles can return home. The petition was presented by Chipo Chaya and Arnold Kuwewa of the Vigil management team. The petition proper is to be presented to the South African High Commission at a demonstration by the Zimbabwe Vigil on Thursday 12th June from 12 noon to 2 pm. The Archbishop was introduced to the crowded assembly by the Reverend Nicholas Holtam who recalled the days when there was a vigil outside South Africa House against the apartheid regime. Now, he said, it had been replaced by the Vigil outside Zimbabwe House.
I fulfilled a lifetime ambition by going to St Martin's in the Fields for a service at 6.30 p.m. in the new stairwell of the crypt. We all crowded in and rehearsed the Taize Magnificat as a round. The Archbishop was so funny but his message was also a serious one. I signed the petition. The hymns were All people that on earth and Now thank we all our God and everyone sang lustily. The new development is most impressive but of course it is not finished. The prayers included prayers for Africa and the Archbishop's own prayer and a moving one about how we only do as much as we want to. Unfortunately there were not enough booklets so I did not get one. The Archbishop blessed 3 Zimbabwean jacaranda statues of Joseph (with saw) Mary and child and Gabriel. They are very fine. A room has been named in his honour. There are also rooms named after Peter Robinson founder of Amnesty and the first woman priest. The Dick Sheppard chapel is nice. Met some of the Zimbabwean vigil group including Sue Toft who I know I have met before we think at Southwark cathedral. In the hall met Habib Mansour who knows many of my interfaith contacts. It was a memorable evening! Liz returned from Ireland with nice photos.