Abstract
From a public theological perspective of the Church as a representative of the kingdom of God on earth, how can we evaluate the propagation of the uncritical patriotism in relation to Zanu-PF by some Zimbabwean churches? This chapter examines the implications of the Christian embrace and propagation of Zanu-PF patriotism for the mission of the church in Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF subscribes to a narrow notion of patriotism that can be called uncritical patriotism, because it divides citizens into either patriots or traitors, resulting in state violence against those considered traitors. The chapter challenges Zimbabwean Christians to realise that, as representatives of the kingdom of God, they ought to develop critical patriotism that is informed by God’s righteousness and justice. Such patriotism is a questioning one that does not blindly succumb to ideologies propounded by political parties.
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Notes
- 1.
In addition to Pastors4ED, other groups that have emerged outside the official Zanu-PF structures to campaign for Mnangagwa include MenBelieED, Young Women4ED, Varakashi4ED and Mahwindi4ED (Nyangani 2022). The list of the groups keeps growing. as all kinds of formations emerge with the suffix ED.
- 2.
It is interesting that one of the initial steps of removing Robert Mugabe in 2017 involved the image of then General Constantino Chiwenga, now vice president of the country, waving a copy of the country’s Constitution and calling for its observation by the leadership of Zanu-PF. This indicated Zanu-PF’s tendency to disregard the constitution in favour of its own ideology.
- 3.
In a later article, Ranger (2005, 10) explains that he took the term ‘patriotic history’ from the Zimbabwean government’s announcements and state press commentary, which depicts the history that was taught in Zanu-PF militia camps and what was offered under the guise of ‘National and Strategic Studies in Teacher Training Colleges and Polytechnics’. From the history of patriotism, Ranger crafted the term patriotic journalism to describe a narrow and divisive journalism that substitutes objective or factual history with the ideology and analysis that was practiced by the Zanu-PF regime when the professor of political science Jonathan Moyo was the minister of Information.
- 4.
Patriotic history and patriotic journalism (Ranger 2004, 2005; Tendi 2008) emerged when Zimbabwe’s image was becoming even more negative after its controversial seizure of farms owned by white farmers and distribution to indigenous people in 2000. The violent seizure of these farms led to the breakdown of the relationship between the Zimbabwean government and that of the United States of America and western European countries.
- 5.
Zanu-PF’s self-understanding as the centre of national unity is demonstrated by the continued celebration of 22 December as a public holiday, to commemorate the signing on this day in 1987 of the unity accord between the old Zanu-PF and PF-ZAPU, to form the new, united Zanu-PF. The event continues to be celebrated as a national holiday despite protests from some opposition parties that the signing should be celebrated privately as a Zanu-PF affair.
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Banda, C. (2023). Mixing up Priorities? Propagation of Uncritical Patriotism of Zanu-PF by the Church in Zimbabwe. In: Dube, B. (eds) Regime, Religion and the Consolidation of Zanu-PFism in Zimbabwe. African Histories and Modernities. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46084-5_2
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