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| Population | 12.5 million |
|---|---|
| Religions | Christian 71.5% Local religions 26% Other 2.5% |
| Christian Population | 8.75 million |
Christians and the Struggle for Religious Freedom
A vital booklet about religious freedom to inform, inspire and challenge you. Includes an explanation of what religious freedom means and examples of the challenges Christians face in our Persecuted and Forgotten? 2012 update.
Get the book or download your copyLatest news from Zimbabwe
Please pray for persecuted and suffering ChristiansZimbabwe - Country profile
Increasing violence and intimidation by the government – or those purporting to act on behalf of the authorities – have placed growing pressures on the lives of people already reeling from economic melt-down in Zimbabwe.
Individuals or groups who stand in opposition to brutal oppression find themselves facing the wrath of President Robert Mugabe's regime. In common with Anglican Church leaders, Catholic bishops, priests and other senior figures have suffered as a result of their oft-stated determination to protect the rights of the marginalised and the many who live on as little as one meal every two days.
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LISTEN: Aid to the Church in Need's John Pontifex assesses the situation for Christians in Zimbabwe
Priests and Sisters arrested and threatened with violence
In reports received by Aid to the Church in Need, senior Catholic clergy described arrests and threats of violence against clergy, religious Sisters and others. They spoke of how priests were arrested, churches and other church buildings seized and threats of violence made against clergy and Sisters. One bishop said: "In some parts of Zimbabwe we see now the beginnings of a real persecution of the Church, especially where Christians refuse to be co-opted by the [ruling] Zanu PF [party]".
The reports showed how anti-Christian persecution has begun to spread. In the early years of Mugabe's regime, Church-state relations were good as the new leader sought to rebalance power in favour of the poor and marginalised. But tensions grew as the bishops criticised the regime for economic mismanagement and spoke out against state-led violence and other forms of oppression.
Relations broke down completely when the Anglican Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, was excommunicated by fellow bishops for inciting violence and speaking out in favour of acts of oppression, apparently carried out in collusion with Mugabe's Zanu PF party.
Churches, schools and hospitals confiscated
With most Anglicans refusing to side with Kunonga, the regime has backed the former bishop's bid to confiscate churches, schools, hospitals and bank accounts and has committed acts of violence and harassment against those determined to remain part of the wider Anglican communion.
All through the summer of 2011 outrage grew at what was being described as "persecution" of the Church by Kunonga. Such criticisms were voiced by the most senior figures within the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. They produced evidence to show Kunonga's attacks on fellow Anglicans were being supported by Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
Archbishop of Canterbury presents Mugabe with dossier of attacks
Urgently seeking to stem the crisis in October 2011 Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury paid a visit to Zimbabwe. In a meeting with Mr Mugabe he handed the president a dossier detailing a number of attacks on Christians. The document contained reports of bishops receiving death threats – some at gunpoint – and gave details of how one Christian was killed for refusing to follow Nolbert Kunonga.
The dossier told how congregations were forced to flee after being attacked with tear gas and how parishioners were 'assaulted' and needed hospital treatment. In one diocese, 65 churches had been confiscated and a similar number of priests had been evicted from their homes. Church-run schools, clinics and orphanages and hospitals were also taken over by Kunonga's men. Their senior staff were replaced by people loyal to the excommunicated bishop.
Reports showed that Kunonga continued his campaign despite Archbishop Williams' visit and calls for President Mugabe to intervene and stop the violence and intimidation affecting the Church. In November 2011, Kunonga ignored a High Court ruling and evicted a priest from his presbytery, warning that he would be arrested if he refused to leave.
Reliable information about Zimbabwe is in short supply amid reports that propaganda has replaced the work of a free press following the arrest of journalists and the intimidation of others. Huge economic problems continue to blight the lives of many people, with reports of crop failure. Hyper-inflation dating back a number of years has touched the lives of almost everyone in the country with food and fuel shortages, mass unemployment, closure of schools and hospitals.
Key projects
Training Zimbabwe's priests of tomorrow
Vocations are thriving in Zimbabwe, despite the increasing oppression of clergy and faithful. With your help, Aid to the Church in Need is training almost 100 future priests. Read more
Helping Fr John and Sister Mary to reach their flock
Sister Mary and Father John have managed to build up two primary schools and two mission centres, one with a new church, in the last few years. Thanks to you, we have been able to provide them with a new 4x4 vehicle to reach out to their flock. Read more
Hymn books in the local Shona langugae
Music plays a vital part in the Church in Zimbabwe. You have helped fund hymn books in the local Shona language so that the whole congregation can join in with the singing at Mass. Read more
Helping young people through the Youth Alive programme
Thousands of young people are benefitting from the help you have given to the Youth Alive scheme in Zimbabwe. The programme offers counselling, training and career guidance as well as AIDS education. Read more
Persecution and Suffering in Zimbabwe
February 2010: Anglican Bishop Sebastian Bakare of Harare said Christians are facing persecution similar to that of churches under communism.
May 2010: The Supreme Court refused Bishop Nolbert Kunonga’s petition to gain control over the properties of the Anglican Diocese of Harare. (Source: Zimbabwe Mail, 10 May 2010)
September 2010: Four American Baptist missionaries were released on bail after spending three nights in jail on suspicion of dispensing AIDS medication without a license. The doctor, two nurses and a community volunteer were part of a medical mission helping people with HIV/AIDS. (Source: Associated Baptiist Press, 14 September 2010)
April 2011: About 500 Christians gathered in the Church of the Nazarene, Harare, for a ‘Praying for Peace to Save Zimbabwe’ service, were attacked by armed police. Police fired tear gas into the congregation and stormed the sanctuary armed with batons and rifles.
April 2011: Fr Marko Mabutho Mkandla was arrested after holding a church service for victims and survivors of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacres in Lupane. He was charged under the Public Order and Security Act for “holding a public meeting without police clearance”.
April 2011: Free Church minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu, was on his way to a Healing Conference at Victoria Falls, but was stopped at a police roadblock and told the planned meeting was not authorised.
June 2011: Police arrested 16 Christians, including an elderly woman, in Harare. This followed attempts to evict Anglican minister Julius Zimbudzana from his home. All 16 were at the cleric’s house when police arrived.
August 2011: Reuters reported that parishioners were denied access to their churches and were forced to worship outside after a renegade Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, former Bishop of Harare, excommunicated as a result of his support for President Mugabe's suppression of opposition, confiscated churches. A court ruling gave Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, former Bishop of Harare, permission to take over church hospitals and schools. Kunonga and his supporters ejected bishops and officials from churches.
October 2011: The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, met with Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe and handed over a dossier detailing attacks on Christians and churches by excommunicated Bishop Kunonga of Harare, violence apparently carried out in collusion with the regime. Archbishop Williams also issued a strong criticism of the Mugabe regime and spoke out against attacks on the Church. During a homily given in Harare, the Archbishop told the thousands present: "...Their greed and violence have tried to silence your worship and frustrate your witness in churches, schools and hospitals... The message we want to send out from this Eucharistic celebration is that we do not have to live like that – in terror, in bloodshed."
January 2012: Police broke up a New Year’s retreat for Anglican clergy taking place at a school outside Marondera town, about 40 miles from the capital Harare. Police ejected the 80 ministers claiming that the gathering did not have police clearance. The clergy, who included two bishops, denied wrongdoing and refused to leave. They dispersed after being threatened with violence. Anglican Bishop Chad Gandiya said afterwards: “We deplore this action and call upon the higher authorities to intervene. So much for freedom of religion." (Source: Associated Press, 3 January 2012)
January 2012: Reports of “the beginnings of a real persecution of the Church” were received from a number of sources within Zimbabwe by Aid to the Church in Need.A bishop who could not be named for security reasons, said: “The Church, because it opposes the politics of violence, has become herself a victim of that political violence.” The bishop went on: “All people of this country, who do not actively support the unjust policies of Zanu PF are victims of violence, discrimination, injustice, persecution, arrests and even murder.” Priests, religious and lay people had been threatened with violence, church property including schools had been confiscated and Church activities had been disrupted, according to the reports.
Last updated: 17/05/2012