Abstract
Zimbabwe is in the midst of an unprecedented political and economic crisis. Bond
(1998) argues that Zimbabwe has gone through a series of cycles of slumps and
booms. Zimbabwe’s period of crisis has seen a rapid rise and expansion of
Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (PCC) preaching a gospel of material
prosperity. This dissertation discusses how religion seeks to explain the Zimbabwe
socio- economic and political context from a point of faith. In addition, it examines the
role of religion in shaping and informing citizen-state relations during the political and
economic crisis in the country. The paper makes four critical observations. Firstly, the
prosperity gospel has received bad press, while Pentecostalism has not brought about
the move to modernity that Meyer, Berger and Martin (year) suggested. Secondly, as
the economy collapsed and the crisis deepened, citizens and political actors flew from
the ‘realm political of political and economic governance’ to the ‘supernatural’ and
divine teleological realm in search of solutions. Thirdly, PCCs became the new
purveyors of hope based on religion, thereby giving a new meaning to their followers’
political and economic realities. Fourthly this article argues that central to the miracles,
prophecies and testimonies of PCCs is a message of hope. The paper drew upon
Hope and Decolonisation theories focussing on three most popular churches in
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Assembly of God Africa (ZAOGA); United Family International
Church (UFIC); and Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD Ministries), to
understand how citizens interpreted the political and economic crisis or attempted to
seek solutions to their lived experiences. The paper concludes that religion has
become a major variable in understanding contemporary citizen-state relations in
Zimbabwe. However, whatever the future holds, research on Pentecostalism should
not discontinue, especially on the relationship between PCCs and politics in
Zimbabwe. Understanding the interface between Pentecostalism and the political
economy of Zimbabwe, which includes the relationships between pastors and
politicians, will remain important.
M.A. (Biblical Studies)