The Identity of Bernard Mzeki from the Formative History of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe (1890-2013): Retracing His Life, Martyrdom and Infuence
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The identity of Bernard Mzeki from the formative history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe (1890-2013): retracing his life, martyrdom and infuence by JOHN CHAWARIKA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor in the subject of CHURCH HISTORY at the UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA PROMOTOR: PROF. G. DUNCAN AUGUST 2017 Dedication. I dedicate this research work to the late Professor James Ndyabayika who was very desperate to conceive, give birth and raise a contemporary African Church Historian out of me. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Acknowledgements. This research study would not have been a success if it was not of the assistance received from various special people. Words are never enough for the researcher to express his gratitude to the promoter of this thesis, Professor Emeritus Duncan Graham who was very patient in giving advice and direction to this study. I am indebted to his dearest wife, Sandra Duncan who finally proof read this work. The researcher expresses profound gratitude to his dearest and family for the support he received from them specially a new HP laptop to specifically use it for this work. The researcher is appreciating the moral support and prayers he received from the Chawarika family. Great appreciation goes to Dr Mutangadura who kept an eye on my work to see if l was making progress. His scholarly advice is well cherished. I am also grateful to my Bishop Dr Chad Gandiya for giving the researcher an opportunity to pursue his educational dreams. He did not give the researcher alone. He has given all clergy an open door policy for further education in his Diocese. This includes Dean Farai Mutamiri and Revds, Isheanesu Gusha, Vincent Fenga, Joshua Musiyambiri, William Nyapokoto, and Blessing Shambare. They were all an encouragement to this study. Finally, heartfelt gratitude goes to all respondents who participated in the interviews and in answering the questionnaires. The participation of the congregation at Bernard Mzeki Boy’s Mission in Marondera was a humbling experience and of the bishops in the ACZ especially Bishops Hatendi, Bakare, Siyachitema, Ruwona, Mukwanda, Taonezvi, Lunga, the Archbishop of CPCA, the most Revd. Albelt Chama, the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Revd. Christopher Chassen, bishop James David of the Diocese of Rochester, England and many more bishops who contributed to this directly and indirectly to this study. The researcher is thankful to the academic consultants who participated in this work, especially Drs Gunda, Ruziwo, Ezra Chitando, Archford Musodza and many more. God bless you all. You shall all be remembered, loved and prayed for by the researcher. Declarations. I declare that this dissertation on: The identity of Bernard Mzeki from the formative history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe (1890 -2013): Retracing his life, martyrdom and influence: is my own academic product and that have obtained, for the research described in this work, the applicable research ethics approval. I declare that I have observed the ethical standards required in terms of the University of Pretoria’s Code of ethics for researchers and the Policy guidelines for responsible research. Signed: Date: ………. John Chawarika Abstract. The intention of this investigation was to retrace the life, martyrdom and influence of Bernard Mzeki’s identity from the formative history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe (1890 up to 2013). This study intended to establish the following objectives: tracing the history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe from its formative period leading up to the death of Bernard Mzeki; to establish the socio – anthropological, political and economic factors that might have contributed to the death of Mzeki; to establish the theological and biblical notion of martyrdom; to analyze the historical and religious life of Bernard Mzeki leading to his mysterious and controversial death, resultant commemoration and influence to the Anglican Church. And finally, the last objective was to give a critical examination of Mzeki’s martyrdom in light of contemporary African Christendom notion and the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. In terms of research methodology of the study, there were many forms from which historical data was obtained. Primary and secondary sources were used to gather information. Critical analysis was done using a tool of probability value. Furthermore, historical, comparative, socio-anthropological, theological, phenomenological and political approaches were considered and utilized in order determine specific information in this research work. The theoretical framework of post-colonial theory was used as water that flowed along the study since Mzeki was a character lived in the late eighteen hundred. Bernard Mzeki was traced from his childhood life history in Mozambique, his calling, education in South Africa and his journey to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) through Beira Mozambique to establish a new Anglican Diocese of Mashonaland with Bishop Knight Bruce as part of the formative history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. Mzeki was murdered during the revolt on the 18th of June, 1896 due to his Faith as established by the Western historian who painted and claimed him a martyr. After the study, the researcher highlighted conclusively that the political, economic and socio – religious factors forwarded disqualified him to be named a martyr. According to the researcher, history was silent on the procedure that the Anglican Church took to confer the status of martyrdom on Bernard yet the church referred to him as a saint and martyr. This research work alluded to the fact that Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, CPCA and the Anglican Communion worldwide did not have a process or system put in place or a liturgy in its history that bestowed saintly/martyrdom status like the Roman Catholic Church did. Yet, Mzeki was being venerated as a martyr without no traceable criteria or public function sanctioned by the church to bestore martyrdom on him. And his name was in the lectionary of the Church to be commemorated in the Anglican Communion worldwide annually. This showed how significant and influential Mzeki was as part of the spirituality of the Anglican community in Zimbabwe, CPCA and the Anglican Communion when shrines, institutions and many more were named after him. The researcher raised Revd. Wagner and Mrs (Mbuya) Mandeya, Anglicans who were claimed to have died of their faith and there was a need to recognise them as contemporary martyrs of the twenty first century in the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe but there was no procedure to do so. Recommendations were forwarded, one of them being an advocacy for the Anglican Church to establish a way of conferring martyrdom. Abbreviations. ATR (s) - African Traditional Religion (s). APZ - Anglican Province of Zimbabwe (Nolbert Kunonga’s National Church). ACZ - Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. ACC - Anglican Consultative Council. BSAC - British South Africa Company. CPCA - The Church of the Province of Central Africa. CPSA - The Church of the Province of South Africa. CAPA - The Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa. GNU - The Government of National Unity Zimbabwe. ZANU - PF – Zimbabwe African Union - Patriotic Front. MDC - T – Movement of the Democratic Change (Morgan Tsvangirai). ZIPRA - Zimbabwe People Liberation Army. LMS - The London Missionary Society. SPG - The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. UMCA – The Universities Mission to Central Africa. List of Figures. Fig. 5.2.1 ………………………………………………………………………………….. 146 Fig. 5.2.2 ………………………………………………………………………………….. 147 Fig. 5.2.3 ………………………………………………………………………………….. 148 Fig. 5.2.4 ………………………………………………………………………………….. 151 List of Tables. Table 5.2.1 ………………………………………………………………………………... 145 Table 5.2.2 ………………………………………………………………………………... 146 Table 5.2.3 ………………………………………………………………………………… 149 Table 5.2.4 ………………………………………………………………………………... 150 Table 5.2.5 ………………………………………………………………………………... 150 Table 5.2.6 ………………………………………………………………………………... 151 Table 5.2.7 ………………………………………………………………………………... 151 Table of Contents. Chapter one: General history of the study…………………………………………… 1 1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………… 1 2. Area of investigation……………………………………………………………….. 1 3. Problem statement…………………………………………………………………. 3 4. Justification of the study…………………………………………………………... 4 5. Point of departure…………………………………………………………………. 4 6. Objectives of the study…………………………………………………………….. 6 7. Research methodology…………………………………………………………….. 7 1. The historical approach. …………………………………………………………... 7 2. The comparative approach………………………………………………………… 8 3. The socio – anthropological approach………………………………………... 9 4. The theological approach……………………………………………………... 10 5. The phenomenological approach……………………………………………… 11 6. The political approach…………………………………………………………. 12 8. The research gap of the investigation……………………………………………… 13 9. The Theoretical framework: The post- Colonial Theory…………………………. 14 10. Literature review. ………………………………………………………………. 15 1. Primary sources…………………………………………………………………. 16 2. Secondary sources……………………………………………………………….. 18 11. The religious background of Bernard Mzeki………………………………….. 19 12. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….. 22 13. Chapter outline………………………………………………………………….. 22 Chapter two: Formative history of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe…………….. 24 2.1 Introduction. ………………………………………………………………………... 24 2.2 Formation of the Anglican Diocese of Mashonaland……………………………… 24 2.2.1 General history of the Diocese……………………………………………………. 24 2.2.2 The (CPSA) Anglican Church’s contact with