British aid agencies have hit out at a clamp down by Mugabe's ruling ZANU PF party on Zimbabwean church groups carrying out human rights work.

The arrest of eight church leaders and the closure of an office of a church-based human rights organisation - funded by Christian Aid - in Harare are the latest examples of the pressure ZANU PF is putting on human rights groups.

Christian Aid and Tear Fund are speaking out on behalf of these church groups following a spate violence and intimidation. Zanu PF militia have stormed meetings and threatened violence against participants.

The leaders from the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) were arrested at a church gathering in Kadoma.

ZCA is a Christian network which is trying to tackle the worsening crisis in Zimbabwe.

Following interrogation, the eight men were accused of preaching incitement to violence - a charge ridiculed by ZCA who were watching a video of Martin Luther King at the time.

At trial the charges facing five of the leaders were dropped but the remaining three were charged with 'incitement'. The trial will continue on the 23 April.

'This harassment is unacceptable,' said Christian Aid's Africa policy manager, Babatunde Olugboji.

'State services have all but collapsed in Zimbabwe and the poor have limited access to healthcare, education, clean water, food and other essentials. Aid agencies are playing a major role in keeping people off the bread line,' said Mr Olugboji.

'The physical assaults, the intimidation and arrests of our church partner organisations are outrageous - it puts people's lives at risk.'

Tearfund's Karyn Beattie said: 'Churches and NGOs must be allowed to continue the work they are doing to help the poor. They are filling the vacuum left by the actions of a dysfunctional government, and cannot simply stand by and watch while people are robbed of their fundamental human rights.'

Secular organisations and opposition groups have been persecuted for years for speaking out. As these groups have been increasingly silenced, church agencies have been forced to stand up for basic human rights - such as the right to freedom of assembly and expression.

In retaliation, the Zimbabwean government has clamped down on essential work of church agencies through draconian laws and bans on public rallies and demonstrations.

ENDS

For further press information contact Dominic Nutt (Christian Aid) on: 0207 523 2427 or mobile 07720 467680;

Useni Sibanda from Zimbabwe Christian Alliance in Zimbabwe on: +263 11749584 or +263 11881396 or +263 912214757 Or Jonathan Spencer at Tear Fund 07767 473516.

Notes to editors

Christian Aid is an international development agency working with people of all religions and none in around 50 countries.