The Bishop of Harare, Sebastian Bakare, has been given the 2008 Per Anger Award for his fight against oppression.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, this week described Bishop Bakare as a "deeply respected and courageous leader who has spoken out not only against injustices in his community but also against corruption within his own Anglican church."

The head of the worldwide Anglican Communion was speaking from Lambeth Palace before the 10 November presentation to Bishop Bakare in Stockholm of the 2008 Per Anger Award.

The Living History Forum in Stockholm has been commissioned since 2004 by the Swedish government to award the prize in the spirit of ambassador Per Anger who, during the Second World War, took the initiative to write a series of protection letters which saved the lives of thousands of Jews in Budapest.

"Bishop Sebastian Bakare is awarded the 2008 Per Anger Prize for having given voice to the fight against oppression and for the freedom of speech and of opinion in a difficult political situation, with courage and personal sacrifice," the press officer of the history forum, Johan Perwe, told Ecumenical News International.

"As bishop of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, Sebastian Bakare has for many years fought for the situation and rights in society of vulnerable people."

Bishop Bakare in 2007 replaced Nolbert Kunonga, a strong supporter of Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party which until 2008 ruled Zimbabwe.

Since then, he has denounced Mugabe's treatment of Christians, particularly Anglicans. Many Anglican churches have been shut on the orders of Zanu-PF, which believes it should still rule Zimbabwe despite losing a national election in March.