Abstract
This study investigates the intricate relationship between African Pentecostalism and cross-border trading in Zimbabwe, particularly in the context of the country's ongoing political and economic crises. It is in this context that African Pentecostalism has gained popularity, providing people with confidence and hope through prosperity theologies. However, the understanding of the relationship between religion, politics, and cross-border trading during the Zimbabwean crisis is still underdeveloped.
This qualitative study investigates the role of faith in cross-border trading among Pentecostal traders in Zimbabwe and South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research employed hybrid ethnography, including in-depth interviews with 18 women and four men, focusing on migrant trading, border control rules, and the impact of Pentecostalism on their lives. Purposive sampling was used to select participants from different churches, and snowball sampling was also employed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Selected techniques from grounded theory were used for data analysis, and theoretically the study draws on Pierre Bourdieu's thinking on habitus and field, James Scott's notion of the art of resistance and the concept of the kukiya-kiya economy, as described by Jeremy Jones.
The first key finding of the thesis examines the middle-classness of cross-border trading members of African Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe, arguing that the power of these churches lies in offering hope to those lost in the country's political and economic climate. The African Pentecostal churches shape the habitus of believers, internalizing in them a middle-class social status.
Secondly, the study shows that African Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe empower cross-border traders' ability to navigate economic difficulties by instilling resilience through prosperity theology, which shapes their engagement in the kukiya-kiya economy. The study investigates how Zimbabwean Pentecostal church members resist both governmental and spiritual influences, focusing on their hustling for personal survival and flourishing. In the view of many research participants, prosperity
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theology empowers entrepreneurs and provides spiritual guidance, even if there are also others who perceive this theology a scam.
Thirdly, it is shown that Zimbabwean cross-border traders, when engaging in the kukiya-kiya (hustling) economy, often resort to morally ambiguous actions, justified by the need to survive. These traders, part of the kukiya-kiya economy, resist authorities by engaging in illicit activities while maintaining loyalty to their churches. They found ways to cope with lockdowns and restrictions, which led to increased risk-taking, including ventures involving corruption, sexual abuse, and human rights violations.
Based on the above, this thesis argues that, through the lens of prosperity theology, African Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe empower cross-border traders to perceive themselves as middle class. This perception fosters resilience and coping mechanisms amidst economic instability, often necessitating morally ambiguous activities. In this context, Pentecostal churches play a crucial role in shaping the identities and survival strategies of cross-border traders. Therefore, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between religion, economic survival, and identity formation in challenging political and economic environments, particularly in the Zimbabwean context and Africa at large.