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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Refusing to be co-opted? Organizations and reconciliation in Zimbabwe with special reference to the Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe 2005-2013
Author:Dombo, Sylvester
Year:2014
Periodical:Journal for the Study of Religion (ISSN 1011-7601)
Volume:27
Issue:2
Pages:137-171
Language:English
Geographic term:Zimbabwe
Subjects:Church
peacebuilding
political violence
Abstract:Zimbabwe, throughout its history, has had a culture of violence and impunity which has resulted in massive displacements of people, murder, and traumatic memories of the past. In all the epochs of violence some church organizations were vocal and castigated the politicians whilst others were either indifferent or were 'co-opted' by the political parties. By 2008, the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) had lost its hegemony to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and in 2009 a government of national unity was formed at the instigation of the Southern African Development community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) after witnessing unprecedented violence against the people during the 2008 elections. When the unity government was formed in 2009, an organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration was formed to try and bring Zimbabweans together for healing and reconciliation. This study investigates why some church organizations have criticized political violence and participated in national healing and reconciliation while others are either co-opted by the political parties or have remained neutral. The paper focuses on the role played by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA). The ZCA has been lobbying politicians to campaign peacefully, while at the same time housing and counselling the victims of political violence among other activities.The ZCA's role is contrasted to that of Reverend Obadiah Musindo's Destiny for Africa Network (DFAN), which is pro-ZANU-PF and campaigns for Mugabe, whom the church likens to the biblical Moses. It also attacks those churches that criticize ZANU-PF's violence. The research was premised on primary data to obtain a voice from the churches concerned and the politicians on what role they see the church playing in politics and reconciliation in the country. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]
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