MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT The impact of religion in shaping the political processes and outcomes in Zimbabwe. The case of Zvishavane, 2008-2015. BY CALVIN CHAKABVEYO Student Number (R125399R) SUPERVISOR: MR. MUDE Submitted to Midlands State University in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Politics and Public Management Zvishavane, Zimbabwe MAY 2016 RELEASE FORM NAME OF STUDENT: CALVIN CHAKABVEYO DISSERTATION TITLE: The impact of religion in shaping the political processes and outcomes in Zimbabwe. The case of Zvishavane, 2008-2015 DEGREE TITLE: Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Politics and Public Management YEAR: 2016 Permission is hereby granted to the Midlands State University Library to produce single copies of this dissertation and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purpose only. The author does reserve other publication, rights and the dissertation nor may extensive extracts from it be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author‟s written permission. SIGNED: ______________________________________ PERMAMENT ADDRESS 5411/2 Mkoba 11 GWERU. DATE: MAY 2016 ii APPROVAL FORM TOPIC: The impact of religion in shaping the political processes and outcomes in Zimbabwe. A case of Zvishavane, 2008-2015 1. This dissertation is suitable for submission to the Department of Politics and Public Management. It has been checked for conformity with the department guidelines. ________________________ _______________ Mr Mude (Supervisor) Date 2. I certify to the best of my knowledge that the required procedures have been followed and the preparation criteria has been met for the dissertation. ________________________ _______________ Professor .P. Chigora (Chairman) Date iii DECLARATION I, CALVIN CHAKABVEYO (R125399R), do hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigation and research, except to the extent indicated in the acknowledgements, references and comments included in the body of the dissertation, and that it has not been submitted in part or in full for any other degree or to any other university. ________________________ _______________ CALVIN CHAKABVEYO (R125399R Date iv DEDICATION I dedicate this research project to my Sister Venencia. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give honor to the Lord for taking me this far. I would like to acknowledge my family and friends for their unwavering support during the tenure of my study. I am also indebted to the Department of Politics and Public Management for their input in increasing the light in my mind. vi Table of Contents RELEASE FORM ........................................................................................................................... ii APPROVAL FORM ...................................................................................................................... iii DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................ x ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM ................................................................................... 1 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ........................................................................................ 4 1.3 RESEACH OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 RESEACH-QUESTIONS ......................................................................................................... 4 1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................ 5 1.6 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................... 5 1.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................ 8 Civic republican political theory ................................................................................................. 8 1.8 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 9 1.8.1 Research design .................................................................................................................. 9 1.8.2 Phenomenological technique............................................................................................ 10 1.8.4 Theological approach ....................................................................................................... 11 1.8.5 Case study approach ......................................................................................................... 11 1.8.6 Justifying the utilization case study approach .................................................................. 12 1.8. 7 RESEARCH SUBJECTS.................................................................................................... 12 Research population - Zvishavane town ................................................................................... 12 1.8.7 Convenient sampling ........................................................................................................ 13 1.9 DATA COLLECTION ........................................................................................................... 13 SOURCES OF DATA ............................................................................................................... 13 1.9.1Primary data ................................................................................................................... 13 vii 1.9.3 Secondary data ................................................................................................................. 14 1.9.4 Research instruments........................................................................................................ 14 1.9.5 Questionnaires .................................................................................................................. 14 1.9.7Interviews .......................................................................................................................... 15 10. DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................. 16 10.1 Research reliability and validity ........................................................................................ 16 11 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY........................................................................................... 17 12 DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ..................................................................................... 17 13 CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERARTURE ............................................................................... 17 14 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................. 18 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER TWO: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF POLITICS AND RELIGION IN ZIMBABWE ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 19 2.1 The Pre-colonial Religious and Political Relations in Zimbabwe ...................................... 19 2.2 Colonial political-religious relations in Zimbabwe ............................................................. 22 2.3 The post-independence religious-political interface ........................................................... 30 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER THREE: THE GLOBAL, REGIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY NATIONAL POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS RELATIONS ................................................................................... 35 3.1 INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND RELIGION. ........................................................... 35 3.2 POLITICS AND RELIGION IN AFRICA ......................................................................... 38 3.3 RELIGION AND POLITICS IN ZIMBABWE; CURRENT AFFAIRS (2008-2015)...... 40 3.3.1 Religion and political legitimacy .................................................................................. 40 3.3.2 Religion and lections in Zimbabwe (2008 and 2013)