Religion-Regime Relations in Zimbabwe: Co-operation and Resistance

Description

This book explores religion-regime relations in contemporary Zimbabwe to identify patterns of co-operation and resistance across diverse religious institutions. Using co-operation and resistance as an analytical framework, the book shows how different religious organisations have interacted with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s "Second Republic", following Robert Mugabe’s departure from the political scene. In particular, through case studies on the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and Pentecostals, African Traditional Religions, Islam, and others, the book explores how different religious institutions have responded to Mnangagwa’s new regime. Chapters highlight the complexities characterising the religion-regime interface, showing how the same religious organisation might co-operate and resist at the same time. Furthermore, the book compares how religious institutions co-operated or resisted Mugabe’s earlier regime to identify patterns of continuity and change. Overall, the book highlights the challenges of deploying simplistic frames in efforts to understand the interface between politics and religion. A significant contribution to global scholarship on religion-regime interfaces, this book will appeal to academics and students in the field of Religious Studies, Political Science, History and African Studies Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Contributors Editors Authors Introduction Religion-Regime Relations in Zimbabwe: Co-Operation and Resistance Introduction Politics and Religion: A Note On the Intersection Politics, Religion and the Ongoing Zimbabwean Crises The “Second Republic”: Old Politics in a Changing Context? The Chapters Conclusion Notes References 1 “The March Is Not Ended!” ZCBC’s Pastoral Letter, God and the Crises of Politics in Zimbabwe Introduction A Brief Socio-Historical Situational Analysis of Church-State Relations in Zimbabwe The March Is Not Ended – Unpacking the Import of the ZCBC Pastoral Letter The Response By Government and State Actors to the Pastoral Letter – A Crisis of the Crises The Choice – Uncritical Faith and Uncritical Patriotism Or Faith and Patriotism Lessons Learned From the Pastoral Letter Fallout Conclusion Note References 2 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) and the Politics of Zimbabwe: Silence and Critical Solidarity Introduction The New Dispensation/Second Republic God Is in It: Religions as Legitimate Political Players The “Silence” of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe in the New Dispensation The Advantage of Co-Option By the State Or Is This Critical Solidarity? Conclusion References 3 Depoliticising the Pastoral Role of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in the Second Republic Introduction Framework and Methodology Religion and Politics in Zimbabwe: Brothers Or Distant Cousins? Motivation for the Study Background of Wesleyan Methodist’s Relationship With Political Affairs The Wesleyan Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s Involvement in National Affairs The Wesleyan Methodist Church’s Politico-Ecclesiastical and Sacramental Theology Depoliticising Wesleyan Methodist Ecclesiastical Membership in the Second Republic Conclusion Note References 4 “Prisoners of Hope?” Pentecostalism, Politics and the Quest for a New Dispensation in Zimbabwe Introduction Methodology The Basis for Intercessory Prayer: Sinful Gates Opened The Socio-Economic and Political Climate in Zimbabwe The Categorisation of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe Prophecies: The Birth of a New Zimbabwe? Sermons: Authenticating the Regime Significance of Pentecostal Political Theology Conclusion Note References 5 Who Is Doomed, Prophets Or Politicians?: Religion and Politics in Zimbabwe’s New Dispensation Introduction Theoretical Framework Was There a Departure From the Mugabe Legacy? Was the New Dispensation Led By ‘Politicians Against Doom?’ Are the Critics of the New Dispensation ‘Prophets of Doom?’ Conclusion References 6 A Change for No Change: The Ambivalence of Religion in the Second Republic in Zimbabwe Introduction The Context Theoretical Framing: Decoloniality Situating the Problem of Religion in the Second Republic: From Bishop Ndanga to Bishop Mutendi—Changing of Regime Enabling Roles Relay Athletics: From Msindo to Wutaunashe—Of Church Land and Politics in Zimbabwe What Can Be Done? Evoking a Social Justice Oriented Theology Social Justice Oriented Theology Personal Resistance to Captured Theology Conclusion References 7 Religion and Politics in Zimbabwe’s Second Republic: Goodwill Partners? Introduction Outlining the Context Background to the Study The Conceptualisation of Religion and Politics Religion and Politics: A Brief Relational Overview Methodology Religion and Politics: An Overview of the Pre-Colonial Interactions Religion and Politics in Zimbabwe’s First Republic Discussion of Findings The Use of Religion as a Means to Political Ends Opposition Politics and Religion: ‘God Is in It’ Mantra Religion and Politics as Siamese Twins Partners of Goodwill? Concluding Thoughts Note References 8 Islam and Politics in Zimbabwe’s Second Republic Introduction Asians 2018 Harmonised Elections Islam and Humanitarian Aid Cyclone Idai Disaster Islam and Peace Muslims and Health Service Delivery Circumcision Muslims Originally From Malawi The Varemba The July 2018 Harmonised Elections Participation in National Events National Clean-Up Coordinating Committee–Religion Conclusion References 9 The Appropriation of the Bible in the Zimbabwean Narrative By the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference: Lessons for the Second Republic Introduction The Context Appropriation of the Bible The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Pastoral Letter On the 40th Anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence The Appropriation of the Bible in the Zimbabwean Narrative The Καιρὸς (Kairos) Moment of Number 40 The Appropriation of the Number 40 in the Zimbabwean Narrative Lessons for the Second Republic Conclusion Note References 10 Interrogating Responses to the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations’ Call for a National... Introduction Background Methodology Summary of the ZHOCD’s Call for a Seven Year Political Sabbath Summary of the President and Government of Zimbabwe’s Response Summary of the Movement for Democratic Change and Its President’s Response Summary of the ICCZ’s Response Discerning Church-State Models From the Proposal and Responses to It Conclusion References 11 Religion, Politics and Veteran Masculinities in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe Introduction Civil Religion and the Rise of Emmerson Mnangagwa War Veterans, Masculinity Discourses and Mnangagwa’s Rise to Power War Veterans’ Masculinities in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe Conclusion Notes References 12 The Role of Theology in Contemporary Zimbabwe: Insights From the Rise of the Monarchy in the Hebrew Bible Introduction The ‘New Dispensation’: An Overview Contemporary Zimbabwe: An Overview of the Socio-Economic and Political Context Does the Church Have a Mandate in Such a Context? Why Talk of the Role of Theology and Not the Church in This Chapter? The Rise of the Monarchy and the Role of Theology in Contemporary Zimbabwe Conclusion References 13 Contested Interpretations: The Case of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora in the United Kingdom Responding to the New Dispensation Introduction Background and Context Theoretical Framework: The Transmigration Theory The Method A Snapshot of the Migration of Zimbabweans Findings and Discussion Returning Home Ascending the Political Throne The Forgiveness Placebo Bringing Back the Technocrats Conclusion Notes References Index