An historical analysis of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa’s socio-political and economical influence on Zimbabwe (1890-1990) By David Mushayavanhu Student Number u10507664 Submitted in Fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor - (Ph.D.) in Church History and Polity At the University of Pretoria South Africa 2017 Promoter: Professor Jerry Pillay i © University of Pretoria Dedication This study is dedicated to my late mother, Makandipei Mushayavanhu (Nee Vandirai), who struggled with my studies alone after the passing on of my father. She was a principled woman who inspired me to cultivate a critical and analytical approach to life. It is also dedicated to my spiritual father the late Rev. Donovan Brian Enslin, minister of Masvingo Congregation of the former Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa of Zimbabwe, who mentored me and encouraged me to value academic pursuit as an excellent and effective mission strategy. i © University of Pretoria Acknowledgments A research study of this magnitude could not be successful without a supportive community with which one identifies. It was through the zeal for an improved life for the UPCSA community in Zimbabwe that enabled the researcher to realize the importance of studying the church's contribution to socio-political and economic life in the country. The topic on, “An historical analysis of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa’s socio-political and economic effects on Zimbabwe (1890-1990)”, could not have made sense to the researcher had he not been exposed to the church's social gospel. My profound thanks go to my wife Pauline, whose questions, insights and criticisms shaped the line of thought for this study. I am also grateful for the support and encouragement which I received from my children Tatenda, Victor, and Tanyaradzwa Valery as well as my nephew, Innocent during the research process. I am indebted to my promoter, Professor Jerry Pillay, whose feedback challenged my analysis of issues at stake and re-directed my reflection and presentation in this study. He coaxed me to progress with the research when I felt discouraged. He was both a mentor and model for me. I thank the archivists at the National Archives of Zimbabwe who assisted me to find the sources I needed for this study. I thank the interviewees whose responses provided the researcher with his contemporary understanding of PCSA’s socio-political and economic activities during Zimbabwe's pre and post-colonial period. Finally, I want to thank God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for providing inspiration, understanding, strength and protection during the study ii © University of Pretoria Declaration I David Mushayavanhu do hereby declare that this dissertation on, “An historical analysis of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa’s socio-political and economical influence on Zimbabwe (1890 - 1990)”, is my own work and that all sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Signed: David Mushayavanhu Date: 8th April 2017 iii © University of Pretoria Abstract The PCSA has its roots in the Reformed Tradition, is embedded in the reformed culture, and, as such, it imparted reformed flavour into the community of service in Zimbabwe. This thesis offers a historical analysis and reformed theological perspective and inquiry relating to the issues of socio-politics and economics and the role of the PCSA in Zimbabwe from 1890 to 1990. It raised pertinent questions on the relevance, implications of, and work of, the PCSA; as to whether the celebration of the 100 year of mission work in Zimbabwe was of any relevance to the country. The study traced, the bearing of socio-political and economic influence as they were imparted through reformed perspectives, and interpreted the teachings and practices from a third world perspective. Four themes were used namely: 1. Exploring the Zimbabwean society before Presbyterianism; 2. Examining the missionary Presbyterianism's impact on politics during the period under review; 3. Delineating the Presbyterian teachings on politics and economics and, 4. Evaluating its influence in reconstructing the Zimbabwean society. A theoretical statement was also tested: “PCSA outlines a basis for constructive involvement in socio-politics and economics of Zimbabwe.” iv © University of Pretoria Successes and failures to develop the socio-political and economic context of Zimbabwe by PCSA were unearthed, presented and analysed. The study exposed the historical significance of the PCSA’s influence in the developments on Zimbabwean history and presents an historical account of the PCSA in Zimbabwe, a virgin ground to trade on. The methodology employed mainly included oral history and the southern approach to Church history with the intention to engage African perspectives. The study utilized archival and oral data as primary sources, the interpretation form of contextual theology, and the holistic framework for analyzing history. The study revealed that the PCSA had a special relationship with the colonial government from the Pioneer Column era, which determined how the PCSA responded and made demands on government until the country's independence in 1980. It also uncovered how the PCSA moved from acceptance and collaboration to acceptance and selective rejection of colonial policies, and how the PCSA contributed to the politics and the role played by the mission-educated group in Zimbabwe. The study showed how reformed theology enabled the PCSA to respond to the socio-political and economic situation in Zimbabwe from 1890 to 1990. Extracting from this the study further indicated what role the PCSA can play today as a reformed church in Zimbabwe. TABLE OF CONTENTS v © University of Pretoria Dedication………………………………………………………………….…....i Acknowledgments………………………………………………….…………...ii Declaration………………………………….……………….…………...……..iii Abstract………………………………………………………………………….iv Table of Contents………………………………………………………………..vi Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………xi The Map of Zimbabwe……...……………………………………………...........xiv Chapter 1: General Introduction 1.0 Staging………………………....………………………………...…….….…1 1.1 Motivation……………………………………………………....…..……..…5 1.2 Study Goal..…..…………………………………………………....…....……7 1.3 Literature Review………………..………………………………....…….…..8 1.4 The Gap………………………………………………………………....……14 1.5 Limitations……………………………………………………………....…..15 1.6 Study Design…………………………………………………………...…….17 1.6.1 Missionary Approach…………..………….………………….…….……..18 1.6.2 Nationalistic Approach……..……………….………………………..……19 1.6.3 Southern Approach…………..………….…………………………….…...20 1.6.4 Interpretation…………………………………………….…………………21 1.7 Delimitation………………………………………………………………….22 vi © University of Pretoria 1.8 Conclusion……………………………………………….……………..……23 Chapter 2: Further exploration of Methodology 2.0 Introduction………………………………………………..…………….…...25 2.1 Nature of history…………………………………………………...………....26 2.1.1Importance of history…..…………………………………………………...36 2.1.2 Purpose of history……………………………………………………….....37 2.1.2.1 Writing history …………………………………………………................39 2.1.2.2 Studying Church history……………………………………..……….......42 2.2 Methods of Data Collection…………………..………………....……..…….52 2.2.1 Interviews……………………………………………………………..........55 2.2.2 Qualitative data collection method……………………………..…..............56 2.3 Sources of history………………………………………………..…....….…..57 2.3.1 Oral Sources in the study of Church History………………….……......….59 2.3.2 Oral traditions………………………………………………………..…......61 2.3.3 The diva and the understudy………………………..…………………...….63 2.4 Significance of Oral Tradition…………………………………………….......67 2.5 Value of Oral History in the study of the PCSA in Zimbabwe ……...……......68 2.5.1 Use of interviews to research the PCSA’s ethnic history………..……...…..69 2.5.2 Interpreting oral history ………………………………………………...….69 2.6 Combined Approach……………………………………….……………..….75 2.7 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….………76 vii © University of Pretoria Chapter 3: A Reformed understanding of socio-political and economical teachings within the PCSA in Zimbabwe 3.0 Introduction……………………………………………..…………...…….78 3.1 The PCSA and the State of Zimbabwean ...………………………….........79 3.1.1 Church State Relations………………………………………………..........82 3.1. 2. Evaluation…..………………………………………………………..........88 3.2. Effects of Reformed Theology on the Socio-Politics and Economic context of Zimbabwe……….….....................................................................................90 3.2.1 The PCSA members in leadership positions in Zimbabwean history..……..91 3.3 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….101 Chapter 4: Presbyterianism and Socio-Politics and Economics of Zimbabwe 4.0 Introduction………………………………………………………….……...102 4.1 A historical survey of the period………………………………..………......102 4.2 Politics of the land ………………………………………………..………....107 4.3 Race relations………..………………………………………………...….....122 4.4 War……………………………………………………………….……….....155 4.5 Federation………………………………………………………...…….........161 4.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………..……….170 Chapter 5: Specific involvement and influence of the PCSA on the Socio–Political and Economic context of Zimbabwe 5.0 Introduction……..…….……………………………………………….…….172 5.1 The Sacred land…...……………………………………………….………...173 viii © University of Pretoria 5.1.1 The PCSA and the Politics of land in Zimbabwe………………………….175 5.1.2 The PCSA responses to the land question during the colonial period.…....179 5.1.3 The Fast Track Resettlement Program....……………………………..........183 5.1.4 The survival Church land, an analysis………..…….……………………..186