The rise of pentecostalism in Zimbabwe during the political and economic crises 2010-2017

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