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BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, SEPT. 30, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Pius Ncube resigned from leadership of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, but will now be in charge of pastoral programs.

Archbishop Ncube resigned Sept. 11 after being accused of adultery, a charge that many see as a ploy by the government to silence the prelate. The archbishop has been a staunch defender of human rights and a critic of President Robert Mugabe.

The prelate was assigned his new role by Father Martin Schupp, the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.

Responding to suspicions that he has political ambitions, the archbishop said in a statement, "I would like to make it clear that in the Catholic Church we have a rule against the clergy getting into party politics or taking on civil duties."

He insisted he is a cleric, whose passion is the Church. He affirmed that he will continue to defend human rights, even if that puts him at odds with the Mugabe regime.