THE CHURCH, STATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE ZIMBABWE GOLD CURRENCY

THE CHURCH, STATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE ZIMBABWE GOLD CURRENCY

GIFT MASENGWE

This theoretical study explores the Zimbabwe Council of Churches’ (ZCC) pivotal role in
promoting social justice and economic accountability within Zimbabwe’s repressive political
climate under the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The ZCC
embodies grassroots agency in resisting systemic injustices alongside the Zimbabwe Heads of
Christian Denominations (ZHOCD), representing diverse Christian expressions. The study is
anchored in decolonial theory, advocating for a vigilant prophetic tradition that counters
internal colonisation and contemporary biblical oppression, urging ecumenical and localised
initiatives to challenge state repression. The study highlights a disconnect between government
rhetoric and policy outcomes, exemplified by the failure of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency
to ease socio-economic hardships. The study frames the disconnect through prophetic ideals,
emphasising the importance of grassroots Christians to assume church agency in this scenario.
The study asks the question: What theological indictments should the church issue against prevailing
state policies, and how can the ZCC’s resilience foster effective resistance to repression? Findings
indicate that, despite numerous challenges, the ZCC advocates for impartiality in ethical
governance and anti-corruption efforts. The study concludes that the church’s prophetic
mandate for social justice can be realised through engagement with grassroots communities,
addressing the complex interplay of economics and politics, underscoring the necessity of
prophetic witness and moral authority in Zimbabwe’s collective pursuit of justice, and calls for
unified civil society action to drive systemic economic reforms.

2025