THE MORAL AUTHORITY AND PROPHETIC ZEAL OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE

THE MORAL AUTHORITY AND PROPHETIC ZEAL OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE

GIFT MASENGWE

This article aims to illuminate moral authority and prophetic zeal dynamics by analysing the
struggles encountered by congregations resisting state encroachments. Amidst Zimbabwe’s
political turbulence, the church operates at a critical juncture, grappling with the dual threats
of state capture and the dilution of prophetic integrity. The ecclesiastical prophetic voice,
traditionally positioned as society’s moral compass, has suffered profound erosion, trapped
within a nexus of mutually exploitative relationships among ruling elites, legal frameworks,
and acquiescent ecclesiastical leaders. Those dissenting from the Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) face systemic repression within the church, revealing a deep
moral crisis. Referencing Martin Luther King Jr’s assertion that the church must function as
the ethical justice of the state, this research underscores the potential decline into irrelevance
should prophetic zeal wane. This investigation employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to
bridge gaps concerning moral compromises within religious institutions, aligning practical
leadership insights with broader socio-political contexts. Employing qualitative methodologies,
including informal discussions and WhatsApp exchanges among church leaders and
congregants from diverse denominations, the study generates nuanced insights into the lived
experiences of church-state interactions and the preservation of prophetic integrity. Findings
indicate a pervasive trend of ecclesiastical subservience to state interests, signifying moral
decay and an imperative to restore the church’s ethical foundation. To maintain spiritual
relevance, a revival of prophetic assertiveness is essential, lest the church devolves into an
inconsequential social entity devoid of substantive moral engagement with the state

AOSIS

2024