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God or President Emmerson Mnangagwa? Romans 13:1–7 in Zimbabwe’s Contemporary Church and Elections

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Regime, Religion and the Consolidation of Zanu-PFism in Zimbabwe

Part of the book series: African Histories and Modernities ((AHAM))

Abstract

To whom shall we submit, Christ or Caesar? God or President Emmerson Mnangagwa? These questions invite us to discuss Romans 13:1–7 to examine partisan church and Zanu-PFism in Zimbabwe’s second republic under Mnangagwa. This study analyses Romans 13:1–7 in the biblical corpus to assess biblical alternatives to civic duties, such as voting, and the broader religio-political dichotomy in Zimbabwe. Using a theological lens, the study asks, What is the applicability of the Romans 13:1–7 text in the advancement of a Zanu-PF ideology? How can a contemporary Christian reconcile the text with civic duties while contesting Zanu-PFism? The chapter argues that the church should engage a decolonised scripture reading and interpretation as a theological mandate. This theological mandate empowers congregants as citizens to theologically reflect on the culpability of the Church as either a threat or solution to Zimbabwe’s development. The chapter is aimed at both Christian and non-Christians, to enhance their understanding of the Bible and politics.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Zimbabwean government instituted Anti-Sanctions Day to protest the sanctions placed upon selected government officials in the form of travel bans and embargos. ‘President Mugabe and selected elites were placed under “targeted/smart sanctions” when the United States Congress passed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) in 2001. However, Zanu-PF has manipulated the sanctions discourse to absolve itself from any responsibility for the Zimbabwe crisis from 2000 onwards’ (see Ndlovu-Gatsheni 2012).

  2. 2.

    Zanu-PF founded the Chitepo School of Ideology with a nod to the liberation struggle, to promote social cohesion between so-called freedom fighters and the general masses fighting the oppressive white colonial system. Presently, the school is being used to mobilise and educate the masses regarding nation building and economic development (see Chitepo School of Ideology website: https://csoi.online/).

  3. 3.

    Pastors4ED, Differences between Zanu-PF and CCC, 11 October 2022, 3:27 p.m., https://twitter.com/Pastors4ED/status/1579916559719763969

  4. 4.

    G40 refers to members of Zanu-PF born after the liberation war.

  5. 5.

    Lacoste was a faction led by Mnangagwa, made up of a conglomeration of political leaders who participated in the liberation war. It involved army leaders who had interests in power or the preservation of power by members they were aligned with in the Zanu-PF party and government.

  6. 6.

    Ibid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colombia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA, USA

    Theophilus Tinashe Nenjerama

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  1. Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    Bekithemba Dube

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Nenjerama, T.T. (2023). God or President Emmerson Mnangagwa? Romans 13:1–7 in Zimbabwe’s Contemporary Church and Elections. 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_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46084-5_4

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