How does a regime, whose members have been actively involved in the previous one, appropriate and deploy religious ideas and rhetoric to cast itself as 'born-again' and attractive?
Exploring intersections between politics, religion and economics, this book examines invention of Zimbabwe's 'New Dispensation,' the regime of Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, and how it has aimed to separate itself from the previous regime of Robert G. Mugabe.
Utilizing the concept of 'invention', contributors reflect on how Mnangagwa and his publicists deploy religious ideas, concepts and rhetoric in the quest for legitimacy in a heavily contested political field. The book also reflects on the ways opposing political actors have utilized the same template in their quests to secure power.
The contributors interrogate the use of time, theological ideas and religious practices to separate Mnangagwa's regime from Mugabe's. This book provides insight into how religious rhetoric is used not only to gain, but also to contest legitimacy in Zimbabwe's political sphere.
An analysis of how Zimbabwe’s new political administration deploys religious ideologies in its quest for legitimacy.
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An analysis of how Zimbabwes new political administration deploys religious ideologies in its quest for legitimacy.
List of Contributors
Introduction: Inventing the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe: The Religious
Dimension, Ezra Chitando (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe) and Joram
Tarusarira (University of Groningen, the Netherlands)
1. Built by God and the Ancestors? Interrogating the Spiritual and
Philosophical Foundations of the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe, Ezra Chitando
and Obert B. Mlambo (University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe)
2. The God is in it: The Rhetorical Dimension of Nelson Chamisas Political
Discourse, Josephat Mutangadura (Tshwane University of Technology, South
Africa)
3. "The Voice of the People is the Voice of God: Reviewing the Theological
Foundations of the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe, Vengesai Chimininge
(Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe)
4. I am a Listening President: The New Dispensation, Rhetoric and
Contestation within the Ecumenical Movement, Ishanesu S. Gusha (Independent
Scholar, Spain)
5. Despising the Memory of the Wounded? A Public Theological Evaluation of
President Mnangagwas let bygones be bygones in a Zimbabwe founded and
maintained by violence, Collium Banda (North-West University, South Africa)
6. Justifying a Coup and the Myth of a Post-Military Assisted Transition New
Beginning in the Jehu Revolt and the 2017 Zimbabwe Military Intervention,
Honoured Taruona (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
7. The Bible in the Street: Apocalyptic Reading of 2 Kings 7:2 in Light of
the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe, Canisius Mwandayi (Midlands State
University, Zimbabwe)
8. A Regime-Created or a God Driven Situation? The Zimbabwean Experience
under the New Dispensation, 20172023, Mediel Hove and Vincent Chenzi
(University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe)
9. Gendering Politics and Religion in Zimbabwes New Dispensation: A
Response to the Politics of Exclusion, Molly Manyonganise (Zimbabwe Open
University, Zimbabwe)
10. Expressing missio Dei?: A Theological of Critique of Religious Rhetoric
in Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwas Presidential Speeches, Suspicion Mudzanire
(Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
11. Social Media and the Revolution Gospel in Zimbabwe, Clive Tendai Zimunya
(Roma University, Lesotho)
12. A Paradigm Shift for the Postmodernism Church: Moving from the Pulpit
to the Public Enterprise for the Salvation of All, Sifiso Mpofu (University
of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe)
Bibliography
Index
Ezra Chitando is Professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe and Theology Consultant on HIV and AIDS for the World Council of Churches.
Lovemore Togarasei is Professor of Religious Studies at Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe.
Joram Tarusarira is Assistant Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
