Church warns of power struggles in Zanu-PF

A leading coalition of churches in Zimbabwe said Saturday that it was troubled by political power struggles and intolerance, warning this could boil over to affect the lives of ordinary citizens.

"While the church does not ordinarily seek to comment or intervene in matters related to party politics ... such internal struggles and convulsions may reach such a boiling point and tipping point that national tranquillity and stability are invariably diminished," the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) said in a statement.

It appeared to be a reference to struggles within President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party.

The warning came as a congress of the bitterly-divided Zanu-PF drew to an end. Vice President Joice Mujuru is likely to lose her position at the event.

Her faction of the ruling party has for the last three months been the target of vitriolic verbal attacks led by First Lady Grace Mugabe and state-run media.

The EFZ said: "The church is troubled by the gathering ominous shadows of increased intra-party violence... and intolerance in the ongoing internal political processes."

"We believe that a restive nation should not be exposed to opportunities that may trigger violent conflict."