Zimbabwe Council of Churches: A Conduit for Centering the Far-Left and the Far-Right Political Ideologies in Zimbabwe
Résumé
Since 2000, Zimbabwe’s political landscape has been divided into two extreme ends represented by the conservatives and those advocating for democracy. Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), whose approach is grounded in Marxist theory, used colonial rhetoric to keep the country in the hands of the minority. The party’s hegemonic approach labels everyone differing with their ideology as enemies of sovereignty and puppets of the Western world. In contrast, opposition parties advocate for democracy, reformation of the electoral system and the rule of law. This research typifies ZANU-PF as the far-right while the Movement for Democratic Change (1999-2018) and Citizens Coalition for Change (2022-2023) are identified with the far-left. This qualitative research aimed to argue that, in a conflictive nation divided between diverse ideologies, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has a theological and historical mandate that qualifies it as a conduit to centre the repelling political standpoints. The paper presents the opportunities and challenges faced by ZCC in attempting to centre the two rival groups. It concludes by encouraging ZCC to stand on its principles of neutrality and justice against all odds, as this middle path is a panacea to centering the diverse political voices in Zimbabwe. This study contributes significantly to scholarship as it demonstrates how the church remains a neutral space in the contested political discourse, particularly in Zimbabwe. While political parties fight to control the state and its resources, the church’s vision remains as a torchbearer for people’s hope. The ZCC vision statement of a strong Christian ecumenical fellowship for a united, peaceful, just, and prosperous nation, where all citizens experience holistic salvation, mandates all churches to have visions and live by them to be effective. Keywords: Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Far-left, Far-right, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, Movement for Democratic Change, Citizen Coalition for Change
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