THE Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to be forced out of power and brought to trial in a blistering condemnation of the dictator’s regime.

Dr John Sentamu says the time has come for Mugabe and his allies to be overthrown and “answer for their actions” as a deadly cholera epidemic became the latest crisis to sweep the stricken country.

Writing in a national Sunday newspaper, the Archbishop – a vociferous critic of the Zimbabwean leader’s administration – said he believed the situation in the African country to be even worse than the devastation he witnessed as a dissident in Uganda during the murderous reign of notorious dictator Idi Amin.

He said he would like to see Mugabe go on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for “crimes against humanity.”

Dr Sentamu said any notion of a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe wais a “charade” which the international community must bring to an end.

“In Uganda, we were beaten, tortured, abused and hundreds were murdered, but never did we starve to death or see the level of suffering which is to be found in today’s Zimbabwe,” said the Archbishop.

“The time has come for the international community to recognise the power-sharing deal signed in September is dead.

“The winds of change which once brought hope to Zimbabwe and its neighbours have become a hurricane of destruction with the outbreak of cholera, destitution, starvation and systemic abuse of power by the state.

“As a country cries out for justice, we can no longer be inactive to their call.

“Mugabe and his henchmen must now take their rightful place in The Hague and answer for their actions. The time to remove them from power has come.”

Last December, Dr Sentamu cut up his dog collar live on television and vowed not to wear it again until Mr Mugabe had been ousted.