Suspicion Mudzanire, PhD

The future and success of mission work is fundamentally determined by a proper understanding and implementation of an appropriate vision and strategy to the work. The study is an exploration of the historical-missiological account of Church of Christ‟s mission work in Zimbabwe, focusing specifically on the church‟s vision and strategy at Mashoko Mission from 1956 to 217. This study utilizes approaches such as: phenomenological approach and theological critical approach but it bears a greater inclination to historical-missiological critical approach. Through these approaches and application of an assortment of research tools including drawing information from primary sources; secondary sources; church archives and researcher observation, the study uncovers a number of issues in the missionary vision and strategy of the Church of Christ at Mashoko Mission in relation to some key missiological conceptualizations. The key missiological frameworks delineated are: the concept of missio Dei; contextualization and restoration. The account briefly follows the history of the origins of the Church of Christ up to a time when it landed on the African soil. The research goes on to trace the early history of the Church of Christ in Zimbabwean soil till the establishment of Mashoko Mission station. The account unearth and gives a reflective supposition on the vision and strategy behind the missionary work at Mashoko mission.

This research is a discourse on the cultural significance and relevance of the Shangani rite of male circumcision in light of HIV and AIDS mitigation in Zimbabwe. The study contends that despite the influences of globalization, new medical and technological advances in HIV and AIDS mitigation, cultural practices endure on and contribute a lot in the joint fight against the epidemic. While the study acknowledges some of the limitations of the cultural practice it argues that the practice contributes significantly in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

This research is a discourse on the cultural significance and relevance of the Shangani rite of male circumcision in light of HIV and AIDS mitigation in Zimbabwe. The study contends that despite the influences of globalization, new medical and technological advances in HIV and AIDS mitigation, cultural practices endure on and contribute a lot in the joint fight against the epidemic. While the study acknowledges some of the limitations of the cultural practice it argues that the practice contributes significantly in the fight against HIV and AIDS

This research is a discourse on the cultural significance and relevance of the Shangani rite of male circumcision in light of HIV and AIDS mitigation in Zimbabwe. The study contends that despite the influences of globalization, new medical and technological advances in HIV and AIDS mitigation, cultural practices endure on and contribute a lot in the joint fight against the epidemic. While the study acknowledges some of the limitations of the cultural practice it argues that the practice contributes significantly in the fight against HIV and AIDS

This article uses the African communal concept of ubuntu to reflect on the ministry of Mashoko Christian Hospital (MCH), Zimbabwe, to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS (PLWHA) during the early days since the discovery of the disease. The main question this article seeks to answer is: from a perspective of the African philosophy of ubuntu, how did the ministry of MCH to PLWHA challenge the fear and judgemental attitudes towards the disease within the Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe? This leads to another question: what should the churches learn from MCH’s response to HIV and AIDS? This article only focusses on trends in conduct and not on a detailed history of engaging HIV and AIDS. The significance of this article is to demonstrate the important role played by faith-based organisations (FBOs) in complementing the compassion and care often lacking in the official churches’ response to HIV and AIDS.

This research is a discourse on the cultural significance and relevance of the Shangani rite of male circumcision in light of HIV and AIDS mitigation in Zimbabwe. The study contends that despite the influences of globalization, new medical and technological advances in HIV and AIDS mitigation, cultural practices endure on and contribute a lot in the joint fight against the epidemic. While the study acknowledges some of the limitations of the cultural practice it argues that the practice contributes significantly in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa justified his unconstitutional ascendency to power after a military coup that dethroned former President Robert Mugabe in 2017 by claiming that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’. He repeated the claim in 2018 when Nelson Chamisa refused to recognise him as the legitimately elected president of the country after accusing him of rigging the 2018 elections. Mnangagwa’s use of God’s name to authenticate his rule raises the question: as one of the foundational attributes of God is justice, what does it mean for political leaders openly claiming to be ordained into office by him? This leads to a further question: Has Mnangagwa’s rule satisfied the demands that come with claiming to be ordained by God to rule, and what should be the church’s response towards Mnangagwa’s rule in view of God’s justice? This article uses God’s attribute of justice to critically evaluate Mnangagwa’s claim that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’. Th...

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa justified his unconstitutional ascendency to power after a military coup that dethroned former President Robert Mugabe in 2017 by claiming that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’. He repeated the claim in 2018 when Nelson Chamisa refused to recognise him as the legitimately elected president of the country after accusing him of rigging the 2018 elections. Mnangagwa’s use of God’s name to authenticate his rule raises the question: as one of the foundational attributes of God is justice, what does it mean for political leaders openly claiming to be ordained into office by him? This leads to a further question: Has Mnangagwa’s rule satisfied the demands that come with claiming to be ordained by God to rule, and what should be the church’s response towards Mnangagwa’s rule in view of God’s justice? This article uses God’s attribute of justice to critically evaluate Mnangagwa’s claim that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’. The claim is described and placed within Mnangagwa’s claims and insinuations to be a Christian. His current rule, which is characterised by violent repression and corruption is examined and evaluated. God’s attribute of justice is presented and highlighted in how it challenges Mnangagwa to reform his rule to align it with God’s nature of justice.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article combines insights from religion and politics, the mission of the church in a context of political oppression and systematic theology to highlight the need for the Zimbabwean churches to judge all political systems according to the adherence to God’s justice. It also provides some theological tools by which churches can protect themselves from being co-opted by unjust and oppressive regimes that violate God’s justice.

This article uses the African communal concept of ubuntu to reflect on the ministry of Mashoko Christian Hospital (MCH), Zimbabwe, to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS (PLWHA) during the early days since the discovery of the disease. The main question this article seeks to answer is: from a perspective of the African philosophy of ubuntu, how did the ministry of MCH to PLWHA challenge the fear and judgemental attitudes towards the disease within the Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe? This leads to another question: what should the churches learn from MCH’s response to HIV and AIDS? This article only focusses on trends in conduct and not on a detailed history of engaging HIV and AIDS. The significance of this article is to demonstrate the important role played by faith-based organizations (FBOs) in complementing the compassion and care often lacking in the official churches’ response to HIV and AIDS.