Religious Leaders and the Regime in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe

Religious Leaders and the Regime in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe discusses the nexus of religion and politics in Zimbabwe. The 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.

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.

Introduction: Religious Enablers/Resistors and Thwarting of the Democratic Space in Zimbabwe

Bekithemba Dube

List of Abbreviations

Chapter One: Mapostori as Regime Enablers and Endangered Group: The Case of Zanu PF and Operation Dudula

Bekithemba Dube

Chapter Two: Evangelism as a Regime Transformer? Evangelical Political Engagement in the Undemocratic Zimbabwean State

Collium Banda

Chapter Three: The Church and Politics in Zimbabwe’s Second Republic

Silindiwe Zvingowanisei and Sophia Chirongoma

Chapter Four: Andrew Wutawunashe and the Politics of Zimbabwe’s Second Republic

Sifiso Mpofu

Chapter Five: Religious Leaders as Psychic Destabilizers: Ambivalent Terrain of Regime Enabling in Zimbabwe

Bekithemba Dube and Gift Masengwe

Chapter Six: Displacing to Occupy the Space: Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s Tactic to Enter the Zimbabwean Religious Gallery

Martin Mujinga and Ezra Chitando

Chapter Seven: Religious Comedians and Regime Enabling in Zimbabwe: The Case of Passion Java, Mai TT, and Madam Boss

Bekithemba Dube

Chapter Eight: The Ideology of the ‘Underbelly’ and the Biblical Prophetic Responsibility of Andrew Wutawunashe in Zimbabwe

Gift Masengwe and Bekithemba Dube

Chapter Nine: Church Conferences as Campaigning Ground for the Ruling Party (Zanu-PF)

Ezekiel Baloyi

Chapter Ten: “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?’’: Church and Politics in the Second Republic of Zimbabwe

Robert Matikiti and Maybe Zengenene

Chapter Eleven: The Trajectories of the Church’s Regime Enablers and Regime Resistors in Zimbabwe

Bednicho Nyoni

Chapter Twelve: Preaching, Parrhesia and the Political in Zimbabwe: A case of Apostle Talent Chiwenga

Theophilus Tinashe Nenjerama

About the Contributors