Religious Leaders and the Regime in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe

Bekithemba Dube

doi:10.5771/9781666936780

Summary

Religious Leaders and the Regime in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe looks at the nexus of religion and politics in Zimbabwe. Religious leaders and institutes are discussed as either regime enablers, resistors, or transformers. This book focuses on how religion has played a role in thwarting democracy and has acted as a machine to silence dissenting voices, repression, and poor governance. The book addresses religious figures such as Andrew Wutawunashe, Talent Chiwenga, Bishop Mutendi, and Mapostori. In discussing these figures, the book highlights how ZANU PF has taken advantage of religious power to thwart democracy while rewarding regime enablers. The book also discusses the road to 2023 Zimbabwean elections and highlights the role of the church in creating an enabling and catastrophic environment. This book challenges oppressive systems perpetrated by religious leaders and politicians.

Keywords

Search publication

Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2023
ISBN-Print: 978-1-6669-3677-3
ISBN-Online: 978-1-6669-3678-0
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 224
Product type: Edited Book

1. Dedication No access
2. Contents No access
3. List of Abbreviations No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 8
1. Theoretical Framework: Gramsci’s Hegemony Theory No access
2. 1. Collective Voting Narratives No access
  2. Shrinking Democratic Space No access
  3. Striving through Propaganda No access
  4. Mapostori Members as Endangered People in South Africa No access
3. 1. Shunning Violence and Hate Speech No access
  2. Respecting the Constitution on Individual Freedom No access
  3. Shun Skewed Nationalism No access
4. Conclusion No access
5. Notes No access
6. Bibliography No access
1. A Public Theological Evaluation of Evangelicals’ Use of Evangelism as a Political Tool in Zimbabwe No access
2. Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the National Political Space No access
3. Evangelism in the Mission of Zimbabwean Evangelicals No access
4. Evangelicals’ Strategy of Evangelistic Regime Transformation in Zimbabwe No access
5. Some Problems in the Evangelical Use of Evangelism for Regime Transformation in Zimbabwe No access
6. Towards Prophetic Evangelism That Confronts Undemocratic Structures No access
7. Conclusion No access
8. Notes No access
9. Bibliography No access
1. 1. Clamping Down No access
  2. The Dire Food Shortages in Zimbabwe No access
  3. Health Service Delivery No access
  4. Education No access
2. 1. Andrew Wutawunashe, Nehemiah Mutendi and the Zimbabwe Interdenominational Council of Churches No access
  2. Shingi Munyeza No access
  3. The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference No access
  4. The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe No access
3. Conclusion No access
4. Notes No access
5. Bibliography No access
1. A Brief History of Andrew Wutawunashe No access
2. The Theology of Andrew Wutawunashe No access
3. Andrew Wutawunashe’s Marriage with ZANU-PF Politics No access
4. Conclusion No access
5. Bibliography No access
1. Mapping the Problem: Religious Leaders as Psychic Destabilisers No access
2. Theoretical Framework: Decoloniality No access
3. 1. Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi No access
  2. Apostle Andrew Wutawunashe No access
4. 1. Unceasing Praise Texts No access
  2. Use of Violence Narratives on Behalf of the State No access
  3. Propaganda Hidden in Divine Revelation No access
  4. Promising People Hope against All Odds No access
5. 1. Continuous Challenge to Political and Religious Oppression No access
  2. Epistemic Disobedience and Resistance No access
  3. Re-engagement of Liberation Theology No access
6. Conclusion No access
7. Note No access
8. Bibliography No access
1. Methodology No access
2. The Identity of Apostle Chiwenga No access
3. Apostle Chiwenga’s Approach No access
4. 1. “Chiwenga, the Only Messenger of God in Zimbabwe?” No access
  2. Chiwenga the Patriarchal Apostle No access
  3. Theological Confrontation No access
  4. Apostle Chiwenga as a Regime Resistor No access
5. Conclusion No access
6. Note No access
7. Bibliography No access
1. Brief Background on the Three Comedians No access
2. Theoretical Framework: Decoloniality No access
3. 1. Using Hope for Deceitful Purposes No access
  2. Suppressing Dissenting Voices No access
  3. Discouraging New Voters No access
  4. Friendship with Political Players No access
  5. Hapinde hake mukomana: Reality vs Political Correctness No access
  6. Rethinking the Future of Religious Discourse in Zimbabwe No access
  7. Embracing Moral Integrity No access
  8. Appreciating the Need for Democracy No access
  9. Religious Audit of Politics No access
4. Conclusion No access
5. Notes No access
6. Bibliography No access
1. Definitions of Key Terms: Religion and Politics No access
2. The Relationship between Politics and Religion in Zimbabwe No access
3. Apostle Andrew Wutawunashe and the Family of God Church No access
4. Andrew Wutawunashe and Political Activism No access
5. Ecclesiastical Engagement with the Zimbabwean State No access
6. Values of Love, Justice and Mercy as Foundations of Christian Existence No access
7. The View of the Church on Social Justice in Zimbabwe No access
8. Undoing the Underbelly Theology in Zimbabwe No access
9. Conclusion No access
10. Bibliography No access
1. The Relationship between the Ruling Party and Religion No access
2. Transition to the Second Republic No access
3. Religious Conferences as Campaign Grounds for Politicians No access
4. The White-Garment Churches and ZANU-PF in the Post-Mugabe Era No access
5. Pastors for Economic Development No access
6. Zimbabwe Government and the Church No access
7. Conclusion No access
8. Note No access
9. Bibliography No access
1. 1. Religious Bodies in Zimbabwe No access
  2. Church and State—Regime Enablers in Ascendancy No access
2. Church and State—Regime Resistors in Ascendancy No access
3. Church and State—Frosty Relations No access
4. Appraisal of Relations between Church and State in Zimbabwe No access
5. Conclusion No access
6. Note No access
7. Bibliography No access
1. Definition of the Term Conservatism No access
2. Social Conservatism of Regime Enablers as Influenced by Greek Philosophy No access
3. 1. Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference No access
  2. Zimbabwe Council of Churches No access
  3. Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe No access
4. The Theological Mandate of Churches in Zimbabwe Who Are Regime Resistors No access
5. Conclusion No access
6. Notes No access
7. Bibliography No access
1. Theoretical Understanding of Parrhesia No access
2. Methodology No access
3. 1. Misgovernance, Corruption, and Failed Institutions No access
  2. Questionable and Unethical Leadership: We Are a Chosen Generation/Apostle T.F Chiwenga Worried About Zimbabweans’ State of Mind No access
  3. Elusive Patriotism and Authoritarianism No access
4. Observations and Discussion No access
5. Conclusion No access
6. Bibliography No access
Index No access Pages 218 - 220
About the Contributors No access Pages 221 - 224