The Washington Post is reporting that Zimbabwean archbishop Pius Ncube is ratcheting up the pressure on President Mugabe in response to an escalation in state violence aimed at democracy activists.

Mugabe's opponents reported that a hospitalized activist had died of injuries suffered when police fired tear gas, live ammunition and water cannons to stop a March 11 prayer meeting protesting his rule. Police did not confirm the death of Itai Manyeruki, who would be the second activist to die as a result of violence. Gift Tandare, 31, was fatally shot as the meeting was dispersed.

Archbishop Pius Ncube told a gathering of clerics, pro-democracy activists and mostly Western diplomats in Harare on Thursday that, "We must be ready to stand, even in front of blazing guns."

"I am ready to stand in front," he said. "The biggest problem is Zimbabweans are cowards, myself included. We must get off our comfortable seats and suffer with the people."

Britain's Catholic magazine The Tablet interviewed Ncube in 2004.  Click here to read it (registration required).