I did the same and the problem is discussed here all ready several times
When you installed python with rpm -i there is'nt a file /usr/lib/python1.5/config/Makefile that is needed in the makefile
make[1]: *** No rule to make target `/usr/lib/python1.5/config/Makefile', needed by `sedscript'. Stop. make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/local/src/Zope-1.9b1-src/lib/python'
I used a SRPMS version of python en recompiled it there is a 1.5.1 version on the second disk of the redhat 5.2 distribution.
I believe if the RPM doesn't insert the /config directory then the SRPM that builds it won't either. The solution to this is to d/l your own version of Python and compile it from the tar.gz file. ./configure make make install (<- may need to be root) should do it. I have Zope running fine on 5.0, 5.1 and 5.2 with hand compiled pythons like this. Michel