The Church and Political Transition in Zimbabwe: The Inclusive Government Context

Mhandara, Lawrence; Manyeruke, Charity; Hofisi, Sharon

doi:10.5296/jpag.v3i1.3379

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The AACZ is credited with releasing a hit song, entitled Mauya baba, which praised, thanked and honoured the state president and extolled his virtues. Mhandara, Manyeruke and Hofii (2013) maintain that the relationship between the church and politics can be likened to that between a horse and his jockey. Political activists have, for generations, used religion for colonial political gains.…”

Section: Church and State Relations In The 21 St Century Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

New Contours of Church and State Relations: The Faithfully Obedient Indigenous Churches in 21st Century Zimbabwe

Matikiti¹,

Pandasvika

2023

IJCH

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This article explores the role of indigenous churches in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe. For many years, the government of Zimbabwe has been trying desperately to assert its authority over the church. Upon realising that it could not win the battle to control churches of Western origins, the government turned to the white garment worshippers, popularly known as Mapostori. It is no surprise that the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), looks to ecclesiastical institutions – particularly the indigenous Churches that used to sing the praises of Mugabe, and now of Mnangagwa – to boost its support base. The church can either legitimate the current state of affairs, or call for change of the status quo. Reconstruction and transformation are fundamental pillars of the beliefs of world-affirming Christians. Human transformation is part and parcel of the work of Jesus Christ. Through the interpretive phenomenological analysis the foundational nature and thrust of the church’s evolution of religious social thought, and its understanding of reality is explored. Christians in Zimbabwe have been increasingly working to promote the creation of democratic structures and the rule of law. Democracy and freedom are the foundations of humane existence. Without democracy and freedom, Zimbabwe cannot develop, and Zimbabweans can enjoy neither happiness nor tranquillity. The points of compatibility and incompatibility between the church and the state also depend largely on the theology of particular churches. Indigenous churches are diverse, among which are the Johane Marange Apostolic Church, Vadzidzi, Madzibaba, Johane Masowe eChishanu, Masowe enguwoTsvuku, Guta raJehova and Zion Christian Church. In local parlance, they are either termed Masowe or Mapostori, and the two terms can also be used interchangeably. This article explores the use of ecclesiastical bodies by secular authorities in 21st century Zimbabwe.

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Section: Church and State Relations In The 21 St Century Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

New Contours of Church and State Relations: The Faithfully Obedient Indigenous Churches in 21st Century Zimbabwe

Matikiti¹,

Pandasvika

2023

IJCH

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“…Some religious men and women, unfortunately, became entangled in short-term political gains as pawns in a much bigger political chess game. 52 Christian theology however has advanced social justice and liberty based on the architects of politics. 53 This article wishes to support the view that the church has not only advanced social justice but has also advanced humanitarian assistance during national crises like the intervention of the ZCC in the mining collapses and cyclones in Zimbabwe.…”

Section: The Life-giving Nature Of the Church On Public Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

The Ecumenical Conception of Public Life Praxis: The Case of Zimbabwe

Gaga,

Masengwe,

Dube

2023

MOTBIT

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This article discusses the ecumenical conception of public life praxis in postcolonial Zimbabwe as well as the church’s actions to salvage the deteriorating national crisis including the leveling of the political field in the early 2000s. The views of the church are derived from the experiences of the union of ecumenical church organizations formed in 2007 called the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD). The ZHOCD, composes of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, and the Union for the Development of Apostolic (and Zionist) Churches in Zimbabwe, Africa. The study uses literature, augmented by informal discussions that focused on how the church sought the protection of people’s lives. The study found that the ZHOCD intervened at various critical periods when public life began to degenerate due to state-induced corruption, election violence, and crime. In fact, the church built up specialist organizations to provide required humanitarian services as well as provision of advocacy and protection of human lives by confronting political oppression in Zimbabwe. This forced the ruling party to engage in a palace coup to retain political power in 2017. The article recommends that churches use their power to intervene when accountability institutions have failed because their impartiality to the exercise of political power allows them to perceive public life praxis with a neutral eye. It is further recommended that the ZHOCD needs to engage far and wide groups of Christian organizations of all persuasions if a comprehensive Christian and religious response to a good life can be achieved. The study concluded that it is only the church and other religious organizations that can understand and provide solace to people living in difficult conditions. Keywords: Ecumenism, Public Life, Zimbabwe

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“…Climate variability refers to the climatic parameter of a region varying from its long-term mean (AMCEN, 2011). The characteristics of climate change are extreme weather events and an increase in climate variability (Manyeruke & Mhandara, 2013;Semenov & Stratonovitch, 2015;ZaAS, 2013). Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are tools used for representing future climate conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reliability of Rain-Fed Maize Yield Simulation Using LARS-WG Derived CMIP5 Climate Data at Mount Makulu, Zambia

Chisanga¹,

Phiri²,

Chinene³

2020

JAS

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The impact of climate change on crop growth and yield can be predicted using crop simulation models. A study was conducted to assess the reliability and uncertainty of simulated maize yield for the near future in 2050s at Mount Makulu (latitude = 15.550o S, longitude = 28.250o E, altitude = 1213 m), Zambia. The Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG) was used to generate baseline (1980-2010) and future (2040-2069) climate scenarios for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). Results showed that mean temperature would increase by 2.09oC (RCP 4.5) and 2.56oC (RCP 8.5) relative to the baseline (1980-2010). However, rainfall would reduce by 9.84% (RCP 4.5) and 11.82% (RCP 8.5). The CERES-Maize model simulated results for rainfed maize growth showed that the simulated parameters; days after planting (DAP), biomass and grain yield would reduce from 2040-2069/1980-2010 under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The LARS-WG was successfully for our location can be used in generating climate scenarios for impact studies to inform policy, stakeholders and decision makers. Adaptation strategies to mitigate for the potential impact of climate change includes several sowing dates, cultivar selection that are efficient at using nitrogen fertilizer and planting new cultivars breeds that will thrive under low root soil water content and higher temperatures.

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The Church and Political Transition in Zimbabwe: The Inclusive Government Context

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

New Contours of Church and State Relations: The Faithfully Obedient Indigenous Churches in 21st Century Zimbabwe

New Contours of Church and State Relations: The Faithfully Obedient Indigenous Churches in 21st Century Zimbabwe

The Ecumenical Conception of Public Life Praxis: The Case of Zimbabwe

Reliability of Rain-Fed Maize Yield Simulation Using LARS-WG Derived CMIP5 Climate Data at Mount Makulu, Zambia

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