tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45045943890914898962024-03-05T14:35:02.186+02:00INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION TODAY (ITRT)"DOING THEOLOGY IN A SOCIETY IN TURMOIL" SERIESDr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-9648214702898497872020-03-12T16:48:00.002+02:002020-03-12T16:48:43.336+02:00INTERROGATING MONOGAMY<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">INTERROGATING MONOGAMY.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Monogamy
is a doctrine that the church has learnt to live with, but it stands to be
challenged. This type of marriage has become a starting point of ecclesiastical
faith among the missionary churches. It has perpetuated itself that both
scholars and ordinary Christians have canonized monogamy as a rule of faith.
Tracing the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bible</i>, one of Jesus’
disciples Peter was a married man and most of the disciples were fathers, for
examples, Peter, James and others <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(1
Corinthians 9:5).</i> As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, some of
the Christians who later joined the disciples were married, for example Aquila
and Priscilla. Some of the Christians were also mothers like Dorcas. Some were
either married or widowed respectively like the Shunamite woman and the widow
at Zarephath. Research has shown that monogamy is a Western practice bequeathed
upon the locals by the missionaries as a Christian norm and value. It can be
confusing to many Christians in general and scholars alike to hear from the
writer, a clergy from the Methodist tradition, who became a Christian in the
early 1950s that although monogamy is our rule of ecclesiastical ethics, it is
a fallacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My
experience from a polygamous family is that it is not easy to be received in a
Christian family or in the clergy. When l was a candidate for the Christian
ministry in 1977, one person posed a question as to whether a child from a
polygamous family should be accepted into itinerant ministry. There were about
115 delegates to the traditional Methodist Quarterly meeting which met to
deliberate on my candidacy at Kwenda Methodist Mission in Zimbabwe. My
polygamous back ground had raised emotions in the meeting. Some leaders had
reservations because l am a child from my father’s second wife. The question
was: How could they accept such a candidate whose mother was a second wife and
not married according to church standards?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After
an hour of intense debate, the meeting decided to vote according to the
Methodist practice. The vote was taken and l got 113 for and one against and
one neutral. I was later called in and only told the voting pattern. I have
been involved in the recruitment and training of ministers. A good number of
our clergy do not know their fathers for various reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
did not choose my parents. I was just born in this family which happened to be
polygamous. And my parents were a gift to me like l was to them. How then can
elderly men and women label me as a curse and not a blessing? Most characters
in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bible</i> were born from
polygamous families, for example, Joseph, Jesus was born in a polygamous
family. His mother was sixth wife, records tell us. Perhaps, this is the news
some Christians would not want to hear: l have listened to preachers who have
said that Mary was betrothed to a young man/bachelor, Joseph. I have denied
that fact because we have records that show otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
Jesus was asked whose child he was, l am sure the mother said to him you are
begotten by the Father/Lord. Yet today this could have been taken as a child of
no one. They say in my culture, a “child of the forest”. Such a child is given
the surname of the mother, and adopts her totem. While most of these so called
fatherless children carry the stigma of having “no father” for the rest of their
lives, the father is somewhere in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
we teach the subject called African Traditional Religion, we encourage everyone
to try to know their parents. Because we know that once one is at peace with
his parentage, then one can love others. If it were this time Jesus could have
had Joseph as his legal guardian. Joseph would deny fatherhood to Jesus and
that would have been proper. When we read the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bible,</i> we are told that his parents were Joseph and Mary. Joseph
had other children who became his brothers. There is elder brother James and
others who were his brothers and sisters. So, Jesus was not born in an
illegitimate family. He had normal family like all others even though he was
Son of God. He knew from the beginning that he was a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Societies
which deny their populace polygamous marriage are saddled with the modern
phenomena of “small houses” or mistresses, meaning other girlfriends or wives.
They have bought and developed houses in other parts of the town for the second
and third wives. The worst part is that these men love their church and they
would rather pretend that they only have one wife while they have several of
them for as long as the church does not know. We have encouraged our members to
pretend to be monogamous by denying them what they want. If the clergy are not
in the picture, then the “offending” polygamists are very comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
Rev Dr Levee KadengeDr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-18358286576532618432020-02-27T15:21:00.001+02:002020-03-12T16:49:35.877+02:00TIME MNANGAGA, CHIAMISA SWALLOWED PRIDE FOR THE SAKE OF THE NATION<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TIME
MNANGAGWA, CHAMISA SWALLOWED PRIDE FOR THE SAKE OF THE NATION.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
shall our leaders have people at heart? This sounds not so good to say about
leaders of this nation. One cannot help but ask the question, when shall our
leaders swallow their pride for the sake of the nation? Now that we are facing
the greatest drought of all time, our leaders are behaving like little children
playing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mahumbwe</i> (children’s games)
behind the homestead. This we cannot take any longer. Both older and younger
generations feel like shedding tears as we see our beautiful nation being put
to waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
have been watching both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa emerge
as leaders of this wonderful nation. We see them and what they are doing. So,
far we have seen the country being brought to the international fora. Indeed,
“Zimbabwe is Open for Business” rings like a chorus. What boggles our minds is
that it has taken long before Mnangagwa puts his act together as legitimate
president opposition leader, both with huge support bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thabo
Mbeki should not come to this country to tell our esteemed leaders to like/love
one another and we clap hands for that. He should come here and point to those
things that are happening and only encourage us to work together as grown up
people. Mbeki cannot really come here to tell us that courts of our nation are
the final authority and what they say is final – It is given. If there are any
issues relating to electoral processes, let us leave them for the next
harmonized elections. This is the time to treat each other as mature people who
know what they are doing. What is happening is that we all seem not to know
what we are doing for our country to unite and be counted amongst progressive
nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
only have one country and that is Zimbabwe. The two leaders do not seem to
realize what this country means to the whole world. We are like Israel of
Africa. No one will take that mantel away from us. Look, now we are all over
the world occupying very important positions. Just check around you will find
out that our neighbour South Africa depends very much on our engineers who are
running the cities of that country. You go to any worthwhile institution, you
will find Zimbabweans running those organisations in these cities be it in
Europe, Australia, Canada and even the United States of America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At
home we are failing to act together as one. We seem to wish for everything to
collapses and people suffer. What wrong have Zimbabweans done to deserve such
treatment? We went through a war of liberation and that is a thing of the past.
We suffered Gukurahundi and if we could find it in our hearts to forgive and
move on, we could be saying that the thing of the past with due regard for the
aggrieved parties. Murambatsvina (2005) was another tragedy that took place in
our midst. Several people have died because of the operation, the stress they
endured and heavy losses they suffered. No one has a sound pension or insurance
to talk about. They all collapsed during inflationary years and those are the
things that kill people. We seem to major in postponement while perhaps waiting
for someone to come and solve our problems, but we are capacitated enough to
change our situation for the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes
we have waited and now Mnangagwa and Chamisa should demonstrate to us why we
gave them leadership positions. The president has come up with the Political
Actors Dialogue (Polad) initiative and we applaud him for that. At least this
is something towards recognizing one another. But we all know that is not
enough. Chamisa, Nkosana Moyo, Noah Manyika and Joyce Mujuru are not there. These
are the people that we can count on to give meaning to the dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking
at the calibre of political leadership in the Polad, one can only see a good
number of chancers and opportunists. It’s like the president is having a
monologue. We can all see this that this will not work. The political minnows
just run where there is opportunity and are rewarded for self-serving meetings
that bring no meaning results. They just meet for the sack of meeting and
enjoys perhaps the food and some other goodies that go with such meetings. We
do not expect them to raise an objection because they all know that they do not
represent the people. The fact that their names appeared on the ballot to be
voted for is evidence that they have political ambition, nothing else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One
must look at oneself and say do l have the qualities of a leader? There are so
many Zimbabweans who are in this country who could have offered themselves as
presidents. For the rest of the group who never got sizeable votes or seats in parliament,
they do not deserve any position in solving the problems of this nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People
dismissed them by not voting for them. They should not have been considered
even for the talks. We as Zimbabweans see this as just playing with us and
wasting time. They are not serious and we do not expect anything from them
except that they are paraded for radio and television. Nothing more. David Coltart
describes the Polad group succinctly in the photo they are with the president,
saying the lot are just as good as pretenders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
may not all come forward and tell you what to do but it does not mean that we
do not have ideas to contribute. There are great minds all around and we may
not know where and how to help you. This piece is just a little drop in the
ocean in attempts to try and advise the president on what to do. We want
Mnangagwa to engage in meaningful talks. Social media gives many suggestions
but the minister of Foreign Affairs says they only recognize Polad and nothing
else. No talks outside Polad. Such statements are irresponsible. We also know
there is goodwill amongst the populace. The whole nation is waiting for the two
minds to sit down for serious talks. We are all ready with our prayers for the
two, once they start the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone
must climb down and the other one must climb up for meaningful talks. We will
celebrate the two once they start the ball rolling. Put your feet to the ball
and you will get the nation smiling. Who knows, rains might start falling and
there will be no drought to talk about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
this piece l did not offer advice on what to do for the talks to take place. L
leave it to yourselves to take steps towards talks and we just wait to see the
results. There are leaders who will tell you what you want to hear and even
pray for you, but what you need are critical thinkers who will tell you the
painful truth. Go for it. It can be done. In a few days’ time we want to hear
you talking or preparing to come together for the talks. I rest my case.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</span></div>
<br />Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-84684784890003916932019-06-23T16:54:00.001+02:002019-06-24T19:08:23.069+02:00<b><u>A Visit to the Epicenter for the Cyclone Disaster in the Eastern Zimbabwe-A Solidarity Visit</u></b><br />
<br />
From the 25 to the 27 April 2019 Rev Dr Sifiso Mpofu and myself (Rev Dr Levee Kadenge) visited the cyclone hit area Ngangu the local residential township. We started on this journey to Chimanimani area which was the hardest hit by the cyclone Idai winds which destroyed the area in an unprecedented way. When we were about 80 kilometers away from Ngangu center we started seeing the signs of destruction along the way.<br />
<br />
We started seeing people queue-ing for food and other stuffs. You could see by the faces of the people that there was a disaster which they were living in. Many were living the distribution centers because there was not enough food available.<br />
<br />
The roads were taken away and the ministry of Roads had to create by-passes so that vehicles could pass. We passed through so many destroyed parts of the road. But thank God the way to Chimanimani had been cleared. Upon arrival we found the minister, the Rev Chitiyo, of the United Methodist Church, had gone to the nearby school for further instructions on what to do. He was called back and he and his wife started narrating what had happened.<br />
<br />
It was on the night in which the minister's wife came back for the holiday that disaster struck. It started at about 9pm and they had just gone to sleep. There was a strange sound and that was the beginning. They just thought it was just ordinary rains but the sound shocked everybody. Only to find out around 4am that dead people had already been put in the Church. The Church now had eight dead bodies. Some came when they had already dead. Others died upon arrival. The Church became a mortuary.<br />
<br />
The event just took about 30 minutes but the destruction was out of this world. Several homes had been destroyed. The line on the right side of their homes were all destroyed. A medical doctor who was one of their neighbors died together with his wife and three children. They were found at their neighbor's house and the occupants of that house where never seen. They were taken by the waters and were never seen.<br />
<br />
The church was by now the only place people could put their destroyed furniture and kitchenware. There were six families in that one building. This is the place that had been used to house the dead bodies. Every aspect of debris which included furniture clothes were thrown around all over the area. Where there was a stream of a meter wide was now a river of about 50 meters wide. People could not just understand. Stones of every size was found there. They could not imagine were these stones came from. Some were just big boulders scattered around the area.<br />
<br />
The minister buried on the first day about 20 bodies. At the end of the day they buried more than 132 bodies, that is in one grave yard. What was hapenning in other area was another thing. These are the bodies they could recover. Those bodies that were taken by the river just went into the neighboring Mozambique. Unfortunately we did not visit the other side of Chipinge which was also hard hit. You could not pass certain parts of the road. But the story was the same with more horrific tales from those who experienced the disaster.<br />
<br />
This was a small way by which we could be in solidarity with the people by paying a visit as an Institute of Theological Reflection Today. It was in a sense a pastoral visit to these desperate people. We took with us 37 buckets of carrying water and some plates which we took from our offices in Harare. We left a small amount of money to help with the disaster. <br />
<br />
Rev Dr Levee KadengeDr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-11218613933168932222019-01-19T17:51:00.000+02:002019-01-19T17:51:22.294+02:00Doing Theology In a Society in Turmoil (2018) published by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Literature Bureau.Last year 2018 I published a book called "Doing Theology In a Society in Turmoil." It has 133 pages and it is very revealing. It talks about the struggle we have gone through through all these years. We have suffered and wish we could be liberated from the quagmire in which we are. Interesting to read because it is easily written with the people in mind. In the same year I also published another book called "In Pursuit for Freedom". It's being sold on the Amazon. These two books are very different in their approach to the issues. The second one is in the form of murmuirs. It has 192 pages. I hope readers will enjoy reading these books.Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-78467800481468637912018-01-04T15:49:00.000+02:002018-01-04T15:49:25.731+02:00Women should work for positions of power<header>
<h1 class="title">
Women should work for positions of power</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-12-31T04:52:54+0200">Rev Dr Levee Kadenge </abbr></div>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-12-31T04:52:54+0200">December 31, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/politics/" title="View all items in Politics">Politics</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section>Africa and indeed the whole world have refused that
power in whatever form may be transferred from husband to wife. We
thought it was going to be easy and simple but we have all learnt the
hard way that it would never be so.<span id="more-210006720948737"></span><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
Hillary Clinton tried it in the United States of America. She had
hoped to take over from her husband Bill Clinton, but her efforts fell
flat. Grace Mugabe tried it in Zimbabwe and Nkosazana Ndlamini Zuma
tried it in South Africa and it did not work. One is bound to ask why?
In all the cases, their husbands secretly harboured wishes to have their
wives take over.<br />
<br />
At the core is the execution of the process to hand over power to
one’s spouse. If it was a different person altogether with intentions to
take over power, that would have been tolerated. The transfer of power
within a family is what people do not want. One should come from
somewhere to contest any political position and they would not face
resistance from the general populace. What people are against is a woman
coming into power through their proximity to the throne, especially
when the husband has been holding the reins. Why do women want to ride
on the popularity of their husbands to come to power?<br />
<br />
These ambitious women should come on board and seek power fairly
without riding on their husbands’ backs. There should be no arranged
power transfer. Husbands may have succeeded but that does not mean that
power, knowledge and skills would transfer to the wives easily. We must
say “over our dead bodies shall we allow women to take over from their
husbands”. When the husband retires, they must go and enjoy their
pension together. What are they saying to us? The message is that when
the husband was in power, he showed his wife how to run government so
they begin to entertain thoughts of taking the bull by the horns.<br />
<br />
In Britain and Germany, Theresa May and Angela Meckel respectively
came to power through sheer hard work. They were convincing to their
people. They did not use their husbands in any way. The women should
know that every man who comes into power is there to serve and not to
share the power with the wife. Whoever aspires to be in power, must
work their way up. The saying that “behind every successful man there is
a woman” is not only untrue, but just a convenient saying which is said
in public to appease women.<br />
<br />
The world has seen through these men and they have been dead right in
seeing the man as a leader in his own right. Women get the accolades,
well and fine, for their support of their husbands. It would be folly
for these women to want to take over. No woman should then dream that
because the husbands did well in the office, there must be some kind of
power transfer.
<br />
<br />
I am not saying that women cannot lead. They can if they come up from
their own angles, not from behind their husbands. We see clearly and we
do not want to be fooled. The world has its eyes open and wants to be
led by men who would have been looked after very well by their wives.
When they have done the job, we will thank them for a job well-done. In
cases where women eventually get the power, they tend to brag by saying
they were actually the ones running the show when we thought it was
their husbands. <br />
<br />
Clinton wanted to go for presidency and competed with Barack Obama to
become American’s president. She did fail, and he made her secretary of
state. But she still wanted to be the president. She tried, and she did
not know what she was into. She tried hard but she failed at it again.
It was like they liked her all over America, but even with that show of
love from the people, she lost the leadership. Indeed, Bill Clinton
helped her to achieve her goal. He supported her right up to the end. <br />
<br />
The amount of money and effort put into it was huge. For all those
efforts that the whole nation put into it, nothing worked out. She had
all the groundswell in most states. She lacked nothing in her campaign.
All systems worked in her favour, but all that came to nothing. We
cannot say that they were lacking anything. We only hope that she had
what it takes, but to no avail. After those gruelling efforts, she lost
the big post.<br />
<br />
Then it was our own. There were innuendoes to the fact that Grace
wanted to be president. She really pushed Mugabe to the end. At each of
the interface rallies we thought each one was putting her to the front.
It seemed as if all systems worked in her favour. Nothing could stop
her. It seemed she was closing in on the vice-presidency. Even the
vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa was finally pinned down and we thought
he was gone. But Mugabe was careful not to appoint her soon after he
sent Mnangagwa packing. He waited a little bit and that was going to
work in Mnangagwa’s favour.<br />
<br />
The army intervened and in no time, we were all caught in that moment
of anxiety and anticipation. The first family got the message that
their efforts had been thwarted. The army could not let Grace and her
friends stampede the presidency. Efforts to get her out of the way were
in place. Prior to the “coup”, then army general Constantino Chiwenga
was out in China for an official duty. We are told they had wanted to
ambush him.<br />
<br />
The G40 faction was out-smarted by the army. The
waiting as deliberations went on at state House. As the nation waited
for Mugabe’s resignation, he held fast, leaving the nation in suspense.<br />
The final debacle was that of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. This time we
had one who had all the support of the ex-husband and all the party
structures. Days and nights of hot campaign were put into her candidacy
but all that did not work out. When delegates started arriving at the
place of the conference, everyone was canvassing for support. It was
like every woman was for a lady president. <br />
<br />
What she lacked was the
generality of the members.Anyone who mattered seemed to be on her side.
<br />
Come the election time, she did no make it. It was very close though,
but all the efforts came to naught. Cyril Ramaphosa won the election
hands up. South Africa was taken by surprise as the vote were announced.
But everyone was in agreement that the election went the right way.
The seal was put. <br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
Those with ears, let them here<strong>. </strong></div>
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
<strong> l Rev Dr Levee Kadenge is a lecturer at United Theological College in Harare. He can be contacted at leveekadenge@gmail.com.</strong></div>
<div class="code-block code-block-4" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;">
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</div>
<article class="post-210006720948737 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-politics">
</article>Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-41522921597256665472017-12-22T10:18:00.000+02:002017-12-22T10:18:10.305+02:00Why it is not advisable for couples to work together<header>
<h1 class="title">
Why it is not advisable for couples to work together</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-12-17T04:12:55+0200">The Rev Dr Levee Kadenge </abbr></div>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-12-17T04:12:55+0200">December 17, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/editorial/" title="View all items in Editorial">Editorial</a>, <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section>The new thinking is that spouses should not work
together. A man and his wife should work separately so that each one of
them enjoys his/her independence. There are dangers associated with
working together as husband and wife. <span id="more-210006720948452"></span><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
They can work together just for a while, or as one of them looks for
work elsewhere. There is need to work in different fields so that you
have the freedom of working with workmates without your relationship
getting in the way. While working together brings the two of you
together, co-workers may find it difficult to relate to the two of you
in your official capacities and as a couple. <br />
<br />
It is workable in some instances, for example in teaching. A couple
can be at one school and find it easy to work together and have fun.
They can share accommodation and other amenities. The profession offers
the convenience of staying and working together. It makes bonding easy.
That arrangement gives comfort and looking after children is made easy.
The family feels safe together. Problems may arise when one gets
promoted. If the woman gets the promotion, it is notch higher for the
family, but this can be very demeaning to the husband who might not be
able to come to terms with his wife’s new status.<br />
<br />
With or without the challenges of promotion, the couple is required
to maintain a professional relationship at work. This is very tough,
but it can be done. There is no need for one to shy away from the other
because of a promotion. As long as the promotion is on merit, there
shouldn’t be any problems both in the family and at work.<br />
<br />
Work in the health sector also allows couples to live together and
work separately, say in a hospital. Suppose you are working in the same
place and one of you gets promoted, you can accept the new post yet opt
to remain in your allocated house. This gives the impression that you
are humble, if you choose to remain in the same house you lived in when
you got promoted.
<br />
<br />
Some couples work in the industrial sites and may happen to do the
same job. They travel to work together. Such couples must respect
boundaries and not encroach onto each other’s work space. <br />
A typical example is what happened recently to the former first lady
Grace Mugabe. She wanted to compete with her husband, Robert Mugabe.
While there is nothing wrong in aspiring to do what your husband is
doing, you have to be very strong to convince people that you have the
capacity.<br />
<br />
The end result was no one wanted to support the wife because of her
actions. People just turned into spectators and there was no sympathy
for what befell Grace. Now both the husband and wife have been retired
to their home because they failed to negotiate their way as the wife
sought power. It was clear she was fighting to be where the husband
was, but she lacked the tact and decorum to weave her way to the throne.<br />
<br />
So many women have brought down their husbands because they do not
look at the hazards of trying to work together. Grace wanted the husband
to leave the post for her even if it meant creating a dynasty. She
took a lot of things for granted as she pushed and shoved people to land
the coveted prize.<br />
<br />
There is much to it than just working together. Everybody is working
to succeed in his or her career. It must come as a shock to find out the
one vying for your post is your spouse. If your spouse wants your
post, it is very difficult to work at cross purposes with your husband
or your wife. The load is more damning if it’s the wife who wants to
grab the post.<br />
<br />
To be safe, work as far apart from each other as possible, otherwise
you pay heavily for working together in this world of competition. Let
your own prowess take you to the greater heights of growth. We are where
we are not because someone backed us, but because we worked for it
without anyone pushing us. So, no man or woman should be given what
they do not deserve because they are in it because of their partner.
Work towards your own goal without compromising those that are close to
you. <br />
<br />
There is no need to grab power by taking advantage of proximity to it. Grace should have worked her way <br />
<br />
up
without being backed by the husband, mindful of the fact that she was
eventually going to be by herself after the husband retired. She had to
prove her acumen and political shrewdness without being unnecessarily
disrespectful. Now people use her as an example of how a wife can bring
down a husband if both of them are not careful.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
<strong>l Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. He can be contacted at leveekadenge@gmail.com.</strong>
</div>
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-23674156002276756772017-12-09T12:24:00.002+02:002017-12-09T12:24:37.605+02:00Martha and Mary in service if the Lord<header>
<h1 class="title">
Martha and Mary in service of the Lord</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-12-03T04:22:06+0200">December 3, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/editorial/" title="View all items in Editorial">Editorial</a>, <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section><strong>By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> <br />
Martha and Mary were sisters. Their brother was Lazarus. At one point Jesus visited them at their house. <span id="more-210006720948120"></span><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
The scripture says: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he
came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She
had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what
he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to
be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister
has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”<br />
<br />
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about
many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has
chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10
v 38-42)
<br />
<br />
The two women waited upon the Lord in different ways. One was
prepared to listen to the Lord while the other one was ready to work for
the Lord. Such was the plight of the sisters — of the one who worked
for the Lord and the one who sat down to listen to the Lord, which one
was doing the right thing?<br />
<br />
The great news was that both ladies were prepared to serve the Lord.
One was working for the Lord by preparing food for him while the other
one was working for the Lord by just sitting under his feet to give Him
her ear. She wanted an understanding of the Lord’s work and to learn.
Both acts constitute working for the Lord in the scheme of worship.
<br />
<br />
What did the Lord do? The Lord understood that they were working for him in different ways, each one doing her own thing. <br />
<br />
Each one of them did her part whole-heartedly. They worked very hard to please him. He was the centre of attraction.<br />
<br />
People work for the Lord in different ways. They indeed would be
doing well for the Lord. However, whatever work that a person does for
the Lord should be done to the best of one’s ability. We cannot all be
doing the same thing for the Lord because we are gifted differently. You
do not want to think you are the only worker in the kingdom. All are
called to serve.<br />
<br />
When one chooses to work for the Lord, it must always be in the best
interest of the kingdom of God. Naturally, we care for what we do as
individuals and care less for what others are doing for the same Lord.
We want to take the prize, but it is not a competition. What images are
we projecting when we compete in the house of the Lord? We cannot be
said to be working for the Lord yet not take notice of what others are
doing for the same kingdom. <br />
<br />
We do right when what we do fulfils the aspirations of the one we are
working for. The Lord understands that His people are working for the
kingdom and each one is doing their best to serve Him. As a collective,
we must realise is that we are all working for the Lord. The Lord is the
personhood to work for in all our small ways. <br />
<br />
All people were created to work for the Lord in one way or the other.
Do not be discouraged, discover your talent and work for the Lord to
the best of your ability.<br />
<br />
In this case, Mary was listening to the Lord while Martha was working
in the kitchen then Martha complained that Mary did not care to help
her. She was just sitting doing nothing listening to the Lord. This must
have annoyed Mary because she was doing something. She was working. She
was learning. She was doing her best under the circumstances. But the
sister could not appreciate the kind of work Mary was undertaking. Jesus
then said Mary had chosen what would not be taken away from her — an
education. <br />
<br />
They could have been doing the same thing but the other one chose to
work for the Lord in a different way. When you have chosen to work for
the Lord, you can either be doing the work at his feet or you can do it
in the glare of everyone. When you are working for the Lord you should
not be surprised to hear that other people are doing the same. No one
should rubbish your efforts.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
Whatever you are doing, you are free to work for the Lord in the way
you can. Nothing is impossible. You can work for the Lord even in
secret. There is no work which is lesser than the other. All is
invaluable work when you do it in the name of the Lord.
</div>
Many people like to be seen to be doing more for the Lord. They crave
for an audience. Just doing something is enough, people do not matter.
Their comments do not matter. Their acts of discouragement do not
matter. Their competitive spirits do not matter. In the greater scheme of things, only God counts.
<br />
Let those with ears hear.<br />
<strong><br />
l Levee Kadenge is a theologian at United Theological College. He can be contacted </strong><br />
<strong>at leveekadenge@gmail.com</strong><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-2558690623949226542017-11-26T15:04:00.002+02:002017-11-26T15:04:52.573+02:00The church: The first steps towards unity<header>
<h1 class="title">
The church: The first steps towards unity</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-19T11:28:52+0200">November 19, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/editorial/" title="View all items in Editorial">Editorial</a>, <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span></div>
<div class="post-meta">
<span class="categories"><strong>By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> </span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section>For years we have not known that the church is one. The
church has always been one, but later got separated. This happened
several years ago beginning with Martin Luther, the man behind the
movement in 1517. He was a priest theologian who was firm.<span id="more-210006720947789"></span><br />
<br /><strong></strong>
He nailed 95 theses on the door of the church. Little did he know
that what he had started was what was going to divide the church for a
long time. <br />
<br />
Most Protestants were brought to Harare to celebrate the coming back
of the two greatest movements of all time. The Catholic Bishops
Conference in Zimbabwe (CBCZ) also brought their members to this grand
accession at the St Marys All Saints in Harare. This was a grand
gathering to celebrate the coming together of the churches after a long
time. <br />
<br />
Among the invited dignitaries were officials from City of Harare
including the mayor Bernard Manyenyeni. Many representatives from
different churches from the city were also present. Diplomats were also
present. <br />
<br />
The chairperson of the Roman Catholic church said, “It is important
that we can meet for joint worship on the eve of October 31, the date
associated with the reformation. We meet with mixed feelings. On one
hand we celebrate the renewal of the church through the ministry of
Martin Luther and other reformers; but we also lament the divisions of
the church of Jesus Christ. For this reason, we meet here today to both
celebrate and repent.” <br />
<div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: right; margin: 8px 0 8px 8px;">
For its part, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches said “Do you not know
that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised
into his death? Therefore, we have been buried with him by the baptism
into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the death by the
glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life. For
if we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly
be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
</div>
Thereafter the churches lamented together the many years they have been separated as if they were not children of one Lord.<br />
<br />
For a long time, the church became fragmented and formed societies
within societies. It is not the members’ fault as the labels are a norm.
Unfortunately, there was no attempt for a long time to meet and
celebrate the church as one entity. No wonder there were members in
attendance who did not know that the church in this fractious form is
divided. <br />
<br />
The church has continued to meet like nothing had gone wrong. The new
Protestant movement and the old Catholic Church had not known a united
church. This was the first time they had come together. <br />
<br />
I have written somewhere that the divided church that we inherited
seemed normal. We have even celebrated division in the manner we have
conducted business. However, the church is better when it comes
together. <br />
<br />
The church was encouraged by the Second Vatican Council, “[to] gladly
acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowment from our common
heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. It is right
and salutary to recognise the riches of Christ and the virtuous works
in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even
to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His
works and worthy of all praise.” In this, Catholics and churches of the
Reformation are called to embrace each other as sisters and brothers in
the Lord. <br />
<br />
This was followed by an apologetical song. A song that showed both
the Catholics and the Protestants that they are contrite for the sins of
the day. The sins of staying away from each other when they were
supposed to be together worshipping as sons and daughters of one Lord
and one faith. Instead of working together by bringing people together
and thereby demonstrating that the word was brought out here to bind us
together, the church was divided with each doing its own thing.<br />
<br />
Men and women from across the divide put aside their differences to
come to a demonstration of love and acceptance at the cathedral. The
Anglican church was magnanimous in that they rose above the occasion and
demonstrated they can be one with the rest and worship God in one
spirit.<br />
<br />
The atmosphere was electrifying in all the procedures that were
taking place in the place of worship. Each leader took people from one
stage of worship to the other. Nothing was left to chance and all those
who had come to worship said it was worthwhile. The denominational
atmosphere which was in the worship place was because it was the first
time such a service had been held.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
All congregants wanted to witness what the churches could do
together. The churches left no stone unturned to demonstrate that the
church is one. At least for an hour it was one church that was founded
by Jesus Christ when he established it in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
</div>
We hope that the church shall work towards unity. It was only the
name of the Lord that was exalted. After the service the people
discussed why they had kept each other at arm’s length. They all left
the congregation happy, knowing that they have come from a service that
was graced by God. Let <br />
those with ears hear.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-4" style="clear: both; margin: 8px 0;">
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</div>
<strong>l Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. He can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com.</strong><br />
<strong>*As The Standard celebrates 20 years, it pays tribute to the
late Bornwell Chakaodza who was editor of the paper from 2002 to 2005.</strong><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-68198881733773582092017-11-26T14:51:00.002+02:002017-11-26T14:51:36.234+02:00Cultural responsibilities are cast in stone<header>
<h1 class="title">
Cultural responsibilities are cast in stone<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-26T04:12:03+0200"><strong> </strong></abbr></h1>
<h1 class="title">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-26T04:12:03+0200"><strong>The Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> </abbr></h1>
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-26T04:12:03+0200"></abbr></header><div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-26T04:12:03+0200">November 26, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section><br />
Funerals of all shapes and sizes begin in town for urban
dwellers and then the body is taken to a rural home, its final resting
place. When a parent with a rural home dies, they are taken home so that
they lie in the same place as other fallen relatives. <span id="more-210006720948041"></span><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
When relatives come to funerals, they console and pay their last
respects. In line with the Shona culture, the last respects are not paid
at the son-in-law’s place, but at the son’s place or at the deceased’s
abode. It is cultural and given that the body of the deceased should lie
in state at the home of a son and not at a daughter’s house, come what
may. It is the man who has the prerogative to take charge of the
funeral. <br />
<br />
Even when a mother was taken care of at her daughter’s place, when
death visits, the brother takes over. It does not matter how poor this
man might be, the responsibility is his. <br />
<br />
When you raise your children, you have to do it knowing that their
roles differ and they must fit in those roles seamlessly. If they are
clear about their roles, they will not fight or exchange bad words when
called to take responsibility. There will be no question about who
should do what when duty calls.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: right; margin: 8px 0 8px 8px;">
When children grow up, they must be prepared for big tasks ahead of
them. These are the duties they have to carry out in the future. Boys
will become men and head families.</div>
<br />
As life happens, you will be placed in such a context that brings you
to do what you have been prepared to for the rest of your life. If your
mentors did things right, you will not fail in your responsibilities
later on in life. In a rural setting, all those around you will prepare
you for your future tasks. <br />
<br />
When you are being sent to look after cattle, parents are not busying
you for nothing. They can beat you up if you fail in that task because
they are teaching you to take responsibility. Just by herding cattle,
you develop different qualities that are critical later in life. <br />
<br />
Recently a local woman passed on. The funeral was at her son’s place. That is the time we learnt she had a son. <br />
<br />
The son, who had been overshadowed by the girls, had to claim his
place as one to lead the mother’s funeral and to host the mourners. His
sisters contributed towards funeral expenses as the brother played the
father figure.<br />
<br />
Since she was going to be buried in Hwedza, the funeral party left the son’s place for the rural home. <br />
So, fathers and mothers, be assured that when you die the boys will
take their roles as boys and girls will play supporting roles.<br />
<br />
We saw it happen a couple of weeks ago. Such is the way of life when
everything falls in place in the way the children were brought up. They
are schooled to know the way they should follow, which includes taking
care of elderly parents in time of need. We are happy everything went
well and the son hosted the mourners. Thank you son for taking care of
business when it was your turn. The last respects were paid at the
rightful place.<br />
<br />
Those with ears, let them hear.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
<strong>l Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College, Harare. He can </strong></div>
<strong>be contacted at leveekadenge@gmail.com.</strong><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-49031397054511027772017-11-13T18:04:00.003+02:002017-11-13T18:04:49.112+02:00Relatives can do better than just attending funerals <br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-5185228015030174" data-ad-format="link" data-ad-slot="5703318064" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: block; height: 90px;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 90px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 1000px;"></ins></ins>Relatives can do better than just attending funerals
<br />
<div class="col-full" id="content">
<div id="main-sidebar-container">
<section id="main"><article class="post-210006720947534 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-editorial category-opinion"><div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-11-12T07:00:44+0200">November 12, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/editorial/" title="View all items in Editorial">Editorial</a>, <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section></article></section></div>
</div>
<strong>By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> <br />
Parents should be looked
after by those who would have remained behind. There is no reason why
that shouldn’t be the case. I recently attended a funeral where there
were several people but unfortunately, they did not know each other. I
wondered what was happening at this funeral where each one who stood up
to say something started by saying they did not know the other mourners.<span id="more-210006720947534"></span><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
The minister tried to bring order but could not. Her efforts were in
vain because of the confusion since most of the mourners were seeing
each other for the first time. The people had come from distant places
to lend dignity to the funeral but did not seem like they were there to
console each other. they gathered because they were related to the
deceased in one way or the other. The deceased woman was in her late
90s.<br />
<br />
It was a huge gathering of people brought together by death. It all
started when one person stood up to give his speech and said that he was
sure most people did not know each other. This is what he said; “I was
brought up in this home when I was very young. Little did I know that I
would come to bury this old lady. I was brought up here as a young
person by my parents and I went to schools in this community.” He had
retraced his steps to the village to bury the lady who had played a role
in his life when he was still young.<br />
<br />
Another lady stood up and made a clear reference to that effect, that
she also was brought up in the deceased’s family but very few people
knew who she was. Then, it was a young woman’s turn to speak. This woman was very young
indeed and she was coming to the village for the first time.<br />
<br />
This is
what she said; “They looked for me because I am in the lineage of the
family that gave birth to the ‘child’. I did not know that I was so
important to the extent they had to dig for me and found me in the back
of my rural area. I am the mother of this one who has died, but this is
my first time to come here. Today, I am here to bury my daughter and I
am so honoured even though I did not know her during her lifetime.”<br />
<br />
Such was the extent to which this woman belonged. She had several
relatives who came from far and near but did not know that they were
bound to each other by how they related with the deceased. <br />
When the pastor realised that the people at the funeral did not know
each other, she put away her planned notes and gave us a unique service
on that beautiful day. She understood the shortcomings of the people
that were gathered there that day. She started by saying that what she
had prepared was going to be for the next generation. Today, she was
going to preach on what she had sensed lacked at the funeral.<br />
<br />
She said all her days in the ministry she had never come at a funeral
that she met so many people who claimed that they did not know each
other. She did blame the old woman, she also blamed relatives who did
not visit her or each other. The deceased was a respected person in the
community yet she did not create an opportunity for her to be visited by
such a group of people who had come to mourn her. This included her
relatives which she should have known herself.<br />
<br />
For 14 years she had not been up and about like other people who
would travel to and from her village. She was wheelchair-bound. So
there was no way she could have travelled to see all her relatives. What
could she have done to leave the village? She was bound to it by her
incapacity.<br />
<br />
We should check on each other when we are still strong in this life.
Relatives should not wait for such sad events as death to come together
and then seek to relate with each other during mourning. Why should one
get a huge crowd of mourners when they were lonely in life? The ones
that do not visit their incapacitated or sick relatives should not
bother with paying the last respects.<br /><br />
At this funeral, there were so many people who had gone there for the
first time. Why only appear to bury someone when there was no meaningful
relationship when the deceased was still around? The minister was so
touched she said first-time visitors should not have bothered coming.
<br />
<br />
People should make an effort to cultivate relationships. It is very
important. The journey to pay last respects does not make sense if there
was no relationship to talk about in the first place. Get to know your
relatives before they die.<br />
Those with ears, let them hear.<br />
<br />
l Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. He can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com. <br />
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One Response to <em>Relatives can do better than just attending funerals</em></h3>
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<span class="name">Weevil-cum-G40</span>
<span class="date">November 12, 2017 at 4:52 pm</span>
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Amen to that, Rev Dr Kadenge!<br />
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Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-9480705326506259142017-10-03T16:09:00.000+02:002017-10-03T16:11:49.316+02:00Forest, the chemist and supermarket of all time<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">October
2, 2017 in <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion"><span style="color: blue;">Opinion</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">By the rev Dr Levee Kadenge </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Zimbabwe
is endowed with traditions that have stood the test of time. These are culture
and religion. The two are very tricky to separate.<b> </b>Where one
is, the other is. Unfortunately, when Europeans came they made it their prime
task to get rid of these two pillars of the African communities.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before
the coming of the whites, this land was controlled by chiefs and paramount
chiefs who had jurisdiction over large pieces of land guided by Munhumutapa and
Lobengula in the south. The latter had just come in from South Africa and
settled in what is now called Matabeleland.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whites
came in when there were two major tribes: the Mashonas who spoke Shona and
Ndebeles who spoke IsiNdebele. Within the boundaries were other minority
tribes that comprised among them, the Kalanga, Sotho, Venda, Tonga, Vapfumbi,
maTshangana and Shangwe in designated parts of the country.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Shona
were divided into five groups, Korekore, Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika and Ndau.
Among these various groups would be variations of both cultural and religious
practices. At the end of the 17th century whites started coming in, adding
another dimension into the mosaic religious and cultural differences that
already existed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Instead
of whites accommodating what they found obtaining in the form of traditions
which were expressed both through cultural and religious practices, they
embarked on direct confrontation against the two. Their aim was to completely
change all that they came across by introducing the church and the school. This
is the time colonialists and missionaries established their basis in order to
control and subdue the people and the land and everything the people owned and
practised. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">All these
people inhabiting the land had complete systems that ran their affairs as
regards both culture and religion. The forest was both the chemist and
supermarket of all time. Whatever man wanted he got from the forest in
abundance; fresh and natural.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Traditional
food was and is still the best legacy given to us by our forefathers.
Today any doctor who does not recommend traditional foodstuffs has to
interrogate his/her conscience. Thank God there is still a lot of it for us to
take and restore our health. Ignoring our food is just as good as
committing suicide.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
people did not lack anything in terms of their everyday lives. They had an
elaborate health system that dealt with all ailments to the extent that there
were experts who specialised in different diseases that affected society. They
also had an intact cultural life that was satisfying to them. Their religion
gave them the latitude to exercise their faculties which led them to enjoy life
on a daily basis. Dance and song made life make sense.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Traditional
religion was their way of life. It affected all facets of their lives. Food was
the best ever. It was both nutritious and medicinal. One did not need a
chemist. Indeed, health provision was a total package. They say you are what
you eat and you eat what you are. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Midwives
were in abundance and carried their duties with expert hands. Medicine men and
women had the best herbs for all the ailments that affected people. This
was real, we are not just romanticising. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surgeries,
both caesarean and other complicated injuries were conducted using sharp iron
knives that were made from iron ore that had long been mined in Hwedza
mountains.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Experts/mhizha
were all over villages and these processed iron ore into steel which eventually
was sold to traders for use in various tasks as cutting tools. Goat skins would
be used to blow furnaces that burnt iron and turned it into steel with ease. Those
gifted with such talents would spend days on end blowing these furnaces to
produce as much steel as possible, some of which was exported. Barter trade was
the game in the nation. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Legend
has it that even brain surgeries were conducted in the villages with great
success rates. It is believed that the biblical King Solomon came for the iron
ore from these mountains. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Those who
specialised in treating particular diseases would be the most sought after in
the length and breath of the land. Mental cases were dealt with
successfully. In essence, no health complaint was left unattended. There
were specialists who dealt with such cases.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the
cultural aspect, it should be noted that education began in the home and
knowledge impartation was systematically done by all those who had roles in
bringing up the young ones. </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Homesteads/villages
became the education centres which were then assisted by the expanded community
which supervised the norms and values of different communities. Each community
was expected to produce people who would fit into the society and be
acknowledged as worthy by surrounding villages. The family was the centre.
Families were either monogamous or polygamous. The latter came into being when
a man could afford to marry as many wives as he could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marriage
was at the centre of African life. Tokens were given to parents of wives as
ways of cementing marriages. A hoe was enough to give to one’s in-laws as
lobola. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cattle
also could exchange hands as lobola. These were family affairs. No individual
would marry his/her daughters without the involvement of the extended
family. The whole family came together with representatives of the one
who would be coming to marry congregating for the purpose of executing the
marriage. As it took the whole village to raise a child, it also took a village
to marry a couple. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">An
elaborate system of relationships was at the centre of African lives. To
this effect, everyone is related to everyone through societal links; be they
marriages, friendships and collaborations even in war. Alliances were common
when a particular group would help the other in times of need, for example when
fending off an enemy. Cross tribal marriages were arranged to bring harmony
among different groups.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
church and the school became the ideological tools while the colonialist
represented the repressive power which did not hesitate even to use the gun to
force people to comply. The fact that Christianity and colonialism came at the
same time, is something which will continue to occupy us as we study the
effects of these two institutions. One wonders what would have happened
if these two institutions came at different times?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
confronted with these two arms of western power, African culture and religions
took a back seat. They had to retreat for survival </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The best
the colonial governments and the churches did was to preserve local languages,
vehicles of cultural and religious values. Let those with ears hear.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Levee
Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. He can be
contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com </span></div>
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Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-46701316373573073312017-09-16T17:08:00.001+02:002017-09-16T17:10:34.027+02:00Denominationalism is a gift we could do without<!--[if !mso]>
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</xml><![endif]--><abbr class="date time published" title="2017-09-11T12:16:52+0200">September
11, 2017</abbr> <br />
<br />
<section class="entry"></section>
<b>By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</b><br />
Zimbabweans have accepted Christianity as one of the major religions.
Christianity is seen among the locals as the message of hope and a means to get
salvation through their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.<span id="more-210006720946125"></span> This faith came to us through different denominations/traditions, beginning
with the mainline churches introduced by western missionaries. Times have changed and now there are several versions of the gospel that
have either been locally founded or brought lately by newer teachings from inside
and outside the country.<br />
<br />
The phenomenon has not only affected Zimbabweans, but is widely spread
across the region or even the continent. Some even claim that it is a
worldwide occurrence that is sweeping all over. But, one can safely say
denominationalism is a gift we could do without.<br />
<br />
The multiplicity of the teachings have been a bother to our population. About
80% of Zimbabweans would claim to be Christian. Their dilemma now is which one is the way to follow amidst the various
versions that are knocking at their doors of faith.<br />
<br />
This article seeks to analyse this religious side of our lives and how we have
been affected either for better or for worse. We do not seek to judge but to reveal the facts as people are affected by
the teachings coming their way. The unfortunate thing that happened to African Christianity is that it came
already divided. Yet the original message of Christ was that His
followers may be one.<br />
<br />
The history of Christianity has been chequered with division right from the
time of its inception. <br />
Paul complained when the first Christians at Corinth were labelling
themselves as followers of this one and not of the other. This irked Paul to an extent that he had to write a strong warning by
denouncing such divisions. (1 Corinthians 1 vs 12).<br />
<br />
The church that was founded on the rock [Peter] that became the Roman Catholic
Church or the Church of Rome eventually divided between the Eastern Orthodox
and the Church of Rome.<br />
As the Roman Empire spread across Europe, the rest of Europe became “roman”
and the church followed the lands that were conquered The Pope became the head of the church in the Roman world as it was
known. In fact, the church followed the flag.
<br />
<br />
When England came under the Roman Empire, things moved on well for some time until
King Henry VIII wanted to marry a second wife because he wanted an heir to the
throne.<br />
The church could not allow that. Incensed by such refusal, the king decided
to break away from the Roman yoke. As a result, the Church of England was born in 1534 with Henry VIII declaring
himself the head of it.<br />
<br />
In the 1500s, there were growing cries for reformation in the church. Martin Luther, who was a Catholic priest, became the prominent figure who
protested against the many excesses of the Catholic Church. Primarily, he was
against the payment of indulgences and celibacy in the church.<br />
<br />
In 1517, Luther nailed the 95 thesis on the doors of his church at Wittenberg
in German protesting against the church. Eventually, Luther was excommunicated in 1521 and he also excommunicated the
Pope himself. He actually was sentenced to death by the church by ordering
anyone who came across him to kill him. Such was the practice of the
church. <br />
<br />
The Great Evangelical Awakening of the 16th and 17th centuries saw so many
brands of Christianity emerging as a result of the confidence that was ushered
in by Luther. Because of space constraints, I will mention just the rise of
Methodism that was initiated by John and Charles Wesley in England in the
mid-1700.<br />
<br />
John was a talented organiser while Charles was a great song-composer.These
started a group of dedicated students at Oxford into a prayer cell. That
was unheard of in the Church of England.The two died Church of England priests
but their followers eventually formed their own denominations after the death
of John in 1791.<br />
<br />
The Great Evangelical Awakening period became the period of missionary
activities across the world. Propelled by the voyages of discovery, wherever,
these ships went, so the gospel was also taken there. At the time of
discoveries and later colonisation period many denominations had come into
being and these went into missionary activities across the world in such a big
way.<br />
<br />
The world was bombarded with a divided church right from the onset of
missionary activities.Indeed, the Catholic Church had spread the gospel earlier
on but such activities did not last in many instances.<br />
<br />
The 19th and 20th centuries continued to see the church spreading like veld
fire all over the place. The message the new converts got was that of a
divided church competing for followers to accept their different brands of
church practices.<br />
<br />
Colonised places would be exposed to denominations that were
following their subjects. This is how many parts of the African continent would be evangelised by differing denominations coming from
the countries of origin. People seemed not to have minded the divisions.As the churches spread their
influence, locals also saw possibilities of coming up with their own versions
of church. African Initiated Churches started to be formed in colonial
countries being led by vibrant former members of the denominational churches.<br />
<br />
A number were divided because of racial segregation and others because of
different interpretations of the gospel. Individuals across the African continent and in the newly evangelised
colonies sprang up with vibrant churches that attracted multitudes of
followers.
<br />
<br />
The choice of churches became so many that the locals found it easy to
follow whoever they wanted.<br />
Many of these new churches would major in one aspect of Christian experience
like being Pentecostal in their approaches or emphasise on healing and other
specialties that go with gospel promises. Members would migrate from one church
to another with ease.<br />
<br />
Break away became the order of the day.On any worship day, the African
terrain is dotted with several groupings in immaculate temples, on rocks, in
the open or under trees listening to the word of God.<br />
<br />
Of late, there has been the proliferation of the new wave of Christian
experience in the form of the prosperity gospel. This has primarily come from
the United States.<br />
<br />
Zimbabwe has had its fair share as Christians are invited to sample this
brand of Christianity or the other.“Prophets” and “Men of God” have now become
the centre of Christian attraction. Some of these leaders have instantly become
very rich from the pickings they make from their hard-pressed followers who are
seeking solace in their teachings.<br />
<br />
The previous indulgences had come in a different way. Some prosperity
gospel pushers started by selling “blessed towels” which people could use by
wiping any car they wanted and they were promised they would get such vehicles.<br />
<br />
Anointed items which ranged from oil to bricks would be sold at exorbitant
prices.Seeding became another source of money. Rich individuals would be
asked to seed their latest models of cars in the promise that they would get 10
times more.<br />
<br />
The latest developments are that they have moved to one-on-one,
consultations which are so expensive. You book the prophet and meet him or her
privately. Recently,there has been several court cases involving the prophets
and their erstwhile followers who would be claiming of having been duped.<br />
<br />
These emerging churches have major business plans which have helped them to
come up with projects which cost millions of dollars. It is like the
reverse of the Gospel where Jesus feeds the 5 000 from five loaves of bread and
two fish — the 5 000 are now feeding one prophet or man/woman of God. What a
traverse of faith!<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear!<br />
Levee Kadenge is a Theologian based at United Theological College in
Harare.He can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
<article class="post-210006720946125 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-editorial">
</article><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/11/kwese-tv-exposed-baz-rot/">Kwese
TV exposed the BAZ rot</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/11/time-retail-therapy/">Time for
retail therapy </a></div>
<h3 id="comments-title">
1 Response to <i>Denominationalism is a gift we could do
without</i></h3>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="comment-100989"></a><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/11/denominationalism-gift-without/?replytocom=100990#respond">Reply</a>
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<span class="name">Janana wa Bikaz</span> <span class="date">September
13, 2017 at 2:28 pm</span> <span class="perma"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/09/11/denominationalism-gift-without/#comment-100991" title="Direct link to this comment">#</a></span> </div>
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A well researched article,people like you Rev
Kadenge,should stand up and preach the word of God as it is.These so called
modern day prophets have realised that a people can do anything to slip away
from poverty or to get healed from sickness and hence these prophets cum- con
artists are always shouting about healing and prosperity.God never said
everyone shall be rich or everyone shall not fall sick.One has to use his or
her own faith to get healed,not by the gods of these shameless con artists,but
by the living God Who belongs to everyone,Who created all mankind,Who created
the whole wide world and everything in it NOT MWARI WA PROPHET NHINGI.For evil
to triumph,let good men do nothing!</div>
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-44109867117279730442017-09-04T21:28:00.000+02:002017-09-04T21:28:46.619+02:00Church an accomplice in demonising local traditions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--> Rev Dr Levee Kadenge <br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">September
3, 2017 in <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion"><span style="color: blue;">Opinion</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">The
religious landscape in Zimbabwe is littered with various shades of beliefs and
practices that range from the mild to the bizarre in both traditional and
Christian beliefs.In local traditions, there are healers and diviners represented by Zimbabwe
National Traditional Healers’ Association (Zinatha). There are also vana
tsikamutanda (witch-hunters) who stride the length and breadth of the country
causing havoc in many a family. On the Christian terrain, we have the
mainline churches on one hand and on the other the pentecostal ones, which
preach the gospel of prosperity, siphoning millions of dollars from
unsuspecting followers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">When will
the religious Zimbabweans have a break and get treated like people who are
godly and deserve respect as regards their beliefs? Desperate situations often
demand desperate solutions. The economy has forced many to seek spiritual
solutions to personal problems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">African
Traditional Religion got its full independence in 1980 when the country got its
freedom. Previously, there were so many restrictions which came as a
result of the misconception of things traditional. The church became a major
accomplice in demonising local practices. Understandably so, because the idea
of doing away with everything African was at the core of both the missionary
and white colonial administrators’ agendas.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">The
Europeans did not give their hosts due respect. Conversely, when whites
arrived, the locals were at pains as to how to accommodate them. History
says elders from various parts of the country travelled to Matonjeni in
Matabeleland to ask for advice as to how to deal with the newcomers. The
shrine was the religious centre for the entire country.<br /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">The Oracle/Voice at the shrine was quick to come up with a solution on how to
treat the white invaders.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"> When the
elders reported that some parts of the country had been invaded by “people
without knees”, for whites came wearing trousers and thereby hiding their
knees, local wisdom invoked its sense of inclusivity. The voice responded
by telling a story that a long, long time ago one of their sisters migrated to
the North and probably had children there. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Because of the weather, the myth had it they turned white. So these were
their aunt’s children coming back. In short, they had to be accommodated
as nieces and nephews.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">In the
Shona tradition, muzukuru (nephew/niece) or in Ndebele culture umzukulu have a
loose relationship with sekuru (uncle). Whatever muzukuru does should be
at the behest of his uncle. So whites were accepted as vazukuru. They
were accorded freedom, but these vazukuru abused the hospitality by taking over
the land. Such was the relationship which progressed from acceptance to
questions being raised as to the conduct of the newcomers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">As
documented, these vazukuru used all sorts of methods to take over land which
ranged from dishonesty to the use of force. The indigenous eventually
found themselves in sandy soils while vazukuru took the best in strategic
places which would be serviced by both rail and road systems. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Because
vazukuru had their own agenda, they proceeded to treat their hosts with
disdain. Everything African was suspect — from religion to culture to the
extent that the missionary and colonial authorities worked together to achieve
their purposes. Even though on the surface their agendas seemed
different, in reality, they both wanted to control the locals so that they
would be of use to their aims and objectives.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">A system
that was complete in terms of how it approached health issues was destroyed.
Gradually, locals were encouraged to seek treatment from clinics and hospitals
established across the nation. Indeed, missionaries established their own
clinics while government did the same in various parts of the country.
The teachings from both systems discouraged people from seeking help from the
tried and tested local system in preference of hospitals and clinics.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"> The
missionaries preached against local herbs because they were associated with
evil simply because they were different from the modern medicine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"> </span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">The
education system was such that it promoted both the culture and the religion of
the newcomers. The most dangerous thing was the mental shift that was being
instilled in the locals to hate themselves and their practices.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">While
western medicine gained the upper hand, locals found ways of secretly seeking
help from own medicine men. But with time and because of the sinking in of the
teachings the local healers who were given names like witch doctors and
diviners/herbalists, they became suspect because their medicines were not
refined or tested in laboratories.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">That was
to change at independence. Things could never be the same. The new government
was amenable to local practices to the extent that Zinatha was established. To
buttress its importance, the organisation was led by an educationist of repute,
the late professor Gordon Chavunduka — a sociologist at the University of
Zimbabwe who eventually became the vice-chancellor in the early 1990s. He
worked with other firebrand doctors in the mould of Herbert Ushewokunze and
Simon Mazorodze who headed and deputised the Health ministry respectively.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">In spite
of the positive stance of the government toward Zinatha, the growing Christian
community was torn between acceptance of local medicines and shunning them. The
government encouraged traditional practitioners to be registered and to work
together with western-trained medical personnel. While the healers were
excited to work in hospitals and with the Ministry of Health, the
formally-trained health personnel never fully accommodated their counterparts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Because
of the inclusive approach by the government, the traditionalists felt
vindicated and went about doing their trade with gusto. Little did they know
that among them would arise all sorts of practitioners who would tarnish their
image among locals. There arose individuals who went across the nation
claiming to sniff witches and flashing them out. They call themselves
tsikamutandas. The nation is divided. Being Christian, most communities
do not take the practices positively.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Communities
and families are torn apart. The government has not taken drastic measures
against these practitioners who impose themselves on unsuspecting villagers.
They group people and sniff out witches and those alleged to have dangerous
medicines in their homes. They force everyone to participate. If someone
refuses to take part, they are accused of hiding something.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">To make
matters worse, clients are asked to pay through livestock. These witch-hunters
are sometimes invited but in most cases they impose themselves, claiming to
have come to cleanse the villages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Those
with ears, let them hear.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Levee
Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College in Harare. He
can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com</span></b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">.</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"></span></div>
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-81235196346250445422017-08-27T17:34:00.000+02:002017-08-27T17:45:26.541+02:00Bringing up children not a stroll in the park<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-08-27T05:43:09+0200">August
27, 2017</abbr>
<br />
<br />
<section class="entry"></section><b>the Bornwell Chakaodza columnRev Dr Levee Kadenge</b><br />
<br />
Events of recent days have left Zimbabweans bewildered. The alleged
brawl by first lady Grace Mugabe in South Africa and the inconvenience caused
by the grounding of planes both in Zimbabwe and South Africa Zimbabwe have been
dominating print, electronic media and social network sites. Thank God
there seems to be a lull, but a few lessons have to be learnt from these
debacles.<span id="more-210006720945854"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Some people have sought to link the events, only to add to the confusion.
Our purpose in this article is to look at what our unhu/hunhu/ubuntu makes of
the goings on and what we can learn from the perplexing events that have left
the nation shell-shocked.<br />
<br />
What has taken place is evidence that something is wrong with our nation at
the present time. Why is it that people seem to celebrate when others are
suffering? Local wisdom says mugoni wepwere ndeasinayo [One who claims to be a
good parent does not have children]. Those who have children know the
difficulties of raising them. There is no one who is an expert in bringing up
children and the same applies to Grace Mugabe as she tries to keep Robert Jnr
and Bellarmine in check. <br />
<br />
Because of the complications that come about when raising children, African
wisdom has come up with many proverbs that try to caution against rubbing it in
when one is in dire straits. What is happening in one household may visit yours
the next day. <br />
<br />
When the Shona say afirwa haatariswe kumeso, what they mean is when someone is
grieving, it is not the time to load them with poking questions. Whatever
status we may have, the bottom line is that we are all human and we face such
challenges when our children are growing up. What the parents need most
is counselling. The children too need counselling. We are all
vulnerable beings irrespective of status.<br />
<br />
The worst any person wants is to be jeered at when they are experiencing
problems, especially those that pertain to children’s behaviour. Such a
time like this, is the time for those who are close —be they clergy or pastors
— to take the opportunity to give counsel. No one knows it all.
Parenting is a life-long career. In such cases, they do not need to be
invited. <br />
<br />
One’s behaviour in public is reflective of what is happening in the privacy
of their home. When strife persists, one can be permanently affected, leading to
what psychologists refer to as compensatory behaviour. <br />
<br />
The busy schedules of most of our leaders leave them with little time with
their children. On the other hand, even those with all the time may not
raise perfect families. “For what profit a man, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his soul” (Mark 6 v 36). Peer pressure takes over
as children seek to emulate others.<br />
<br />
Bringing up children is not a stroll in the park. Those who come from rich
families may be spoilt by having plenty, while those who come from poor
families, are deprived and suffer from lack of everything. These two
extremes may not be the best conditions of bringing up children. Even
those who are in between may not be the ideal circumstances of bringing up
children. <br />
<br />
When a fellow man is facing challenges in their family, it is time for all
of us to rally behind them. The assumption that all is well in our
families at all times when we bring up children is not true.<br />
Maybe when our situations are different, there is this belief that those who
have everything are brought up well. Yes, in some cases it may be true
but it may only be in our minds, when the reality on the ground is
different. Often those who are bringing up children are first timers and
they make blunders in the process and these may be detected at a stage when
they are no longer able to control the children.<br />
<br />
The other factor that makes people unsympathetic is that the society is so
polarised to the extent that if anything happens to those who are perceived to
be rich, powerful families, because of their status, kindness to them is out of
question. Yet these are the people who are most vulnerable. <br />
<br />
We see across the world in some dynasties that there is a pattern of raising
children of nobility or royalty. In some cases, there will be special
schools and special advisors in the form of counsellors — be they religious or
professionals who are hired to stabilise these families. This, however,
is no guarantee that everything will be alright.<br />
<br />
Riches have their advantages while poverty has its own. A balancing act
may be something we cannot fathom easily. Being super rich has its own risks
while being in abject poverty is also risky. The two extremes make people
victims of their circumstances. While we all want to be rich, if we are
not very rich, we may not be aware of the dangers that go with it. <br />
<br />
The Shona wisdom has it rine manyanga hariputirwe [nothing can be hidden
forever]. Our local wisdom maintains that whatever is being covered up will one
day come out. It may be a question of time but the truth will eventually come
in whatever form fate will bring. The events in South Africa are a cry for
help.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear.<br />
<b>
Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. He can
be contacted at leveekadenge@gmail.com</b><br />
<br />
<article class="post-210006720945854 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion">
</article><br />
<br />
<br />
One Response to <i>Bringing up children not a stroll in
the park</i>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="comment-100809"></a><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><img alt="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7b1499ea1f85413a7bbaf5c81a59c749?s=40&d=mm&r=g" border="0" height="40" src="file:///C:/Users/LEVEEK~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" width="40" /></span></li>
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<span class="name">Ngazvirehwe Sezvazviri</span> <span class="date">August 27, 2017 at 11:28 am</span> <span class="perma"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/08/27/bringing-children-not-stroll-park/#comment-100809" title="Direct link to this comment">#</a></span> </div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
Well said and sound advice. However, when one of
the parents of the little brats goes around blasting people left, right and
center, people being people and not God will have their own fun just as the
mother does humiliating grown-ups at the slightest opportunity.The mother is
the cause of the negative attitude some people are having towards the first
family’s woes.She has spent much of her time telling better organized people to
be organized when she should be counseling her wayward children.If the truth
cannot be said about the not so motherly behavior of the boys’ mother then we
will have not have provided worthwhile advice to the family.The boys’ mother
needs to spend much of her time counseling her boys than blasting morally
upright adults.She has sacrificed her motherly role for political mileage and
it is a case of chickens coming home to roost.She wants to be Presidential
advisor, cabinet ministers supervisor, national counselor, women’s league
chairperson, business person and a globe-trotter all in one. Given such a
scenario, it is no wonder that this is now happening to the first family.The
father is burdened with stately duties such that he spends less time with the
boys and the mother should have been helping in this area but she is obsessed
with political grandstanding.The behavior of the boys is a clear indication of
the neglect they have suffered for long. I am afraid that these boys may have
already been targeted long back by drug peddlers and what is now needed is
rehabilitation for them so that they are helped out of this mess.</div>
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-7125601519415926032017-08-20T18:21:00.001+02:002017-08-20T18:25:10.607+02:00Celebrating autonomy and freedom of worship<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">August
20, 2017 in <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion"><span style="color: blue;">Opinion</span></a> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Bornwell Chakaodza column By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In spite
of the uncertainty in Zimbabwe, celebrations have never been left out of our
calendar. At birth we celebrate through singing, when someone has died we
celebrate the life of the deceased in style. On most of our celebratory
occasions, there is a lot of singing, drumming and dancing. The Methodist Church
in Zimbabwe (MCZ), which came to Rhodesia in 1891, is celebrating 40 years of
autonomy at the National Sports Stadium on August 17-20 2017, having been
weaned from the British Methodism in 1977.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">August is
a traditional month of celebrations. After celebrating Heroes’ Day which is
followed by Defence Forces Day, the remaining days in the month are taken by
various church organisations where they meet for annual conventions. These
gatherings mark the end of one year and the beginning of another. New
leadership takes over and preparations for the following year’s celebrations
begin in earnest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Traditionalists
also exploit the month of August by encouraging all those who will be
considering honouring their dead by holding kurova gura/umbuyiso, bringing back
of spirits of the dead ceremonies. This month is packed with these activities.
The month of November will be out of the question because it is a month of
taboo. There should be no celebrations of any kind ranging from weddings or
even graduation parties for the month is considered holy because that is “when
ancestors are on break”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">August
then becomes the busiest month in the year when people are free to engage in
their rituals, be they church or traditional. The month becomes a month of
renewal. Schools will be closed and parents have time to take part in
activities of one’s choice. No wonder some call the month of August the month
of happiness, it is a month of laughter, it is a month of joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From August
21 to 26, there will be another celebration of the Harare Agricultural Show
under the theme: Climate resilience — The new Agricultural Frontier. No other
month can beat August this year with all these activities that will see their
days. Both the spiritual side of life and the material side will be
catered for in a big way. Those who have gone will also be remembered and
celebrated in these activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe also chose this month to celebrate 40 years of
autonomy. Previously the church was run from the mother church in UK. On
October 18 1977 the local church was given independence to run its own affairs
at the former Municipality Sports Centre. The first leader of the church
was the Rev Andrew Majoni Ndhlela who had been its leader from 1965. The
missionaries had seen that their time of leading the church had to come to an
end and left the locals to do their own thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
meant a lot of responsibilities being put on the shoulders of the local
leadership. Some of those issues the church was grappling with was the
indigenisation of the church.<br />
local support had to be solicited for and developments had to be done in terms
of raising the status of its schools. The church leadership then had taken heed
of the “winds of change” speech by Harold Macmillan on February 20 1960.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
speech resonated around the world. “The wind of change is blowing through this
continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national
consciousness is a political fact.” Macmillan was giving a warning to the
resident administrators of the African colonies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
church shows that it was ahead of those who were in charge of the colonies by
handing over the leadership of the church to local leadership. Rev Ndhlela was
appointed to superintend the local church in 1965, just five years after the
call. Indeed, the writing was on the wall and it could not be ignored any
longer. Its sister church, the United Methodist Church appointed Bishop Abel
Muzorewa as its first black bishop in 1968. Bishop Jonasi Shiri became
the first Evangelical Lutheran Church bishop in Rhodesia in 1975.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
missionaries planted churches in this country. At some point all the
denominations banned local traditional instruments from churches. Members were
expected to just sing. The fear was that since these were used in African
traditional worship, members would be attracted back to their religion, which
was seen as heathen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Things
changed gradually when the missionary churches started one by one to allow the
use of instruments. One can only say it was God himself who brought these
back. David says, “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing
praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure
in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” (Psalm 149: 3)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dance was
also forbidden. Worshippers were required to sing without much movement.
Worship atmosphere had to be sombre. On the other hand, Africans found that to
be very prohibitive. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most of
our cultural practices were considered evil, but in secret the Africans made
their way to these gatherings. During the day they would behave saintly.
This created a Christian who was always hiding many things from the missionary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Earlier
on missionaries had devised a form which every black aspiring pastor/minister
was required to fill in upon entering ministry. The form required that he
would pledge that he would not allow his daughter to be married through the
payment of lobola. It was considered as selling them. These black
candidates exchanged notes with their kith and kin in different denominations
and discovered that the missionaries had agreed on the use of the form across
the board.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The black
candidates conspired to sign the forms but agreed en-block to do the right
thing according to their culture. In most of their cultures, fathers of girls
who were getting married did not preside over the marriage of their
daughters. It is either the young brothers or elder brother who were in
charge. Upon being asked whether they had received lobola, they would
emphatically say no. Such was the relationship between the superiors and
their juniors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">New
converts were discouraged from involving themselves in rituals of death and
mourning. The first ritual was that of chenura/ndongamabwe or doro
remvura. This is a ritual done a month after a relative has died.
Relatives and friends would come back to reminisce with those who had lost a
relative. They brewed some beer and drank with neighbours in
commemoration of the departed. The other ritual was kurova guva.
This is a ritual done after a year of one’s departure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christians
found it very difficult to abandon these rituals completely. The best they
could do was to go and attend these rituals in private. The members were not
satisfied by what they were doing. gradually, the two ceremonies changed
from being radically traditional to a kind of compromise. The idea behind
the laity was that they wanted their ministers/pastors to attend these
ceremonies or to even preside over them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To cut a
long story short, these ceremonies/rituals have been renamed nyaradzo —
remembrance and unveiling of tombstone respectively. As a result of this,
ministers now come and grace these occasions and preside over them. This
has been a win-win situation. Most of these gatherings discourage the brewing
of beer and the traditional requirements have been abandoned. They are
now Christian services with a lot of preaching and testimonies around them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has every reason to celebrate its autonomous
status. It has indigenised itself fully and can now worship in truth and
in spirit. Much more can be done, though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Those
with ears, let them hear!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Levee
Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College. Can be
contacted at leveekadenge@gmail.com</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-41346858888118475102017-08-16T10:00:00.001+02:002017-08-16T10:00:14.502+02:00The solution is to love those who hate you<strong>The Bornwell Chakaodza column By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> <br />
<br />
Zimbabwean society has perfected the art of hatred in a very big way.
It is no longer only the politicians, as this has encroached into the
religious arena. Christians are appalled when traditional practitioners
want to take part in religious ceremonies of their own. The best they
can do is to ignore them like they do not exist.<span id="more-210006720945554"></span><br />
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The irony though is when traditionalists come across Christians doing
their own thing, they are very respectful and will not dare interfere.
If Christians on the other hand, could have their way, they would
disrupt the activities of the former, calling their rituals demonic
practices. <br />
<br />
This shows how intolerant Christians are towards other religions. One
traditional healer was happy to inform me that one member of their
family was a leader/bishop in one denomination. This would be anathema
on the Christian’s part.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: right; margin: 8px 0 8px 8px;">
The scriptures are clear, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love
your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies
and pray for those that persecute you…,that you maybe children of your Father in heaven’.” (Matthew 5: 43-48)</div>
The level of hatred is now being exacerbated by those Christians who
claim superiority even over others. We hear prophets, pastors, apostles
and men of God declaring “back to sender” messages. Someone thinks they
are being bewitched and a ritual of “back to sender” is performed and
those claiming to have been helped dare go on air claiming that what had
been sent to them had been returned to those who had sent it. Such is
the tragedy of our faith!
<br />
<br />
It now seems natural to reject what we had become used to in our
lives. They say human beings are rebellious by nature. We have seen
people drifting from the so-called mainline churches or historical
churches and we thought they were going to improve the quality of
worship. Some of us celebrated this move, only to regret at some stage
when all sorts of weird behaviours were now being encouraged.<br />
<br />
They show their happiness by witnessing the one who is alleged to
have sent the spell suffering and dare thank God for that. Then we ask
what the Christian gospel is all about. When Jesus cast out the evil
spirits from the man tormented by them, he sent them to the swine and
not to supposed witches. Characteristically, they have been joined by
the US president Donald Trump whose favourite Bible verse is “an eye for
an eye.”<br />
<br />
Adverts over the radio like “let’s come to bury the witches” that are
being flighted on our local channels are very disturbing. They even
quote scriptures like “thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus
22: 18). What does this mean? <br />
<br />
The Old Testament called for an eye for an eye but the coming in of
the New Testament changed all that. The gospel of Jesus Christ we preach
is of peace, unity and forgiveness.<br /><br />
God says revenge is his. We are not in any way encouraged to return evil for evil.<br />
<br />
The solution is to love those who hate you. Once you love them, they
become enemies no more. You destroy your enemies by loving them. That
is what Jesus did. While hanging on the cross Jesus asked for those who
had hanged him to be forgiven for they knew not what they were doing.<br />
<br />
Where has the gospel of turning another cheek gone to? When someone
asks for a jacket, give him/her another one. When you are asked to go
for a mile, go for two miles.<br />
<br />
Parents are being discarded like they were never worth anything. We
hear these days that some churches are providing their members with
parents and aunts while the parents who gave birth to them are ignored.
Parents are being invited to their children’s weddings while some are
not even invited. <br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
Sad stories are told by some parents who discovered that their
children were wedding in a few days to come. Some could not get over
the shock of it. In-spite of parents having been snubbed, many of them
have gone on to witness their children wedding. They have loved even
those who have disregarded them.
</div>
Revenge has become the watch word. While Christianity has not been
saintly all along by its involvement in crusades, the message from the
bible has been that of advocating for peace, justice and
reconciliation. The bible has always taught us to love our parents but
this has been thrown out of the window.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-4" style="margin: 8px 0;">
You come across a family with a story of a child who has left home
and has vowed never to be part of the family again. The church would
have taken that child by removing him/her from the family. They are
taken through rituals which make them commit themselves to the church
and turn their backs on their family.
</div>
Some have even gone to bid farewell to their relatives, telling them
that even when there is a funeral at home they should not be informed.
Those who have not experienced such separation may not understand the
extent to which such teachings have broken many a family.<br />
<br />
Individuals have now turned to support their pastor, ignoring their
parents. Cars and properties have been donated to pastors, while
parents have not been treated to such.<br />
<br />
When Jesus fed the 5 000 from five loaves and two fish, we thought
that was going to be the trend. Now we witness 5 000 people feeding one
pastor. What a mockery of our faith!<br /><br />
Is this not greediness? What we would have expected is for the pastor
to teach his followers to bless their parents first before they bring
anything to the church. Perhaps selfishness dictates otherwise.<br />
<br />
There
are some congregations where working members bring their full salaries
to the pastor and he will give back pocket money to them.<br />
<br />
Jesus came and took a radical approach to life. He challenged the
culture that he was born into even after he had been initiated through
the same. He demonstrated that he could be in and above culture because
he is God. He said it is not the act of adultery that is the issue
only, but that by merely looking lustfully on the opposite sex, one
would have already committed a sin.<br />
<br />
Could they be taking it from Jesus’s response when he was asked to
attend to his parents who had been looking for him and he said those who
did his father’s will were his parents and relatives. Jesus, though,
never abandoned his mother, even when he was on the cross, he instructed
his beloved disciple John “here is your mother.” (John 19: 27) One
wonders where we get the teaching of ignoring our parents even to their
graves.<br />
<br />
It does not help us to then do all we can to have what we call decent
burials for our parents yet when they were living we ignored them while
being encouraged by the church to do that. But as we have discovered,
some of these Christians would have nothing to do with their parents
when they needed help the most. They would even prefer not to be told
about their death in the first place.<br />
<br />
What then happens when one is in the opposition political party? By
the same token, they become enemies. Whether one is Christian or not
does not matter for all are encouraged to hate those who do not belong.<br />
<br />
One would have thought that Christians would lead by example by
showing their unfailing love through forgiving even those who could have
wronged them. Jesus went to the extent of eating with sinners. A tax
collector Zacchaeus, who was a corrupt man found himself sitting at the
same table with Jesus. (Luke 19: 1-10). Jesus invited himself to the
latter’s home.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear!<br />
<br />
<strong>Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College, Harare. Can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com</strong><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-87545350964604006802017-08-07T14:49:00.001+02:002017-08-07T15:32:05.356+02:00There is nothing new under the sun<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><abbr class="date time published" title="2017-08-06T05:35:49+0200">August
6, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<section class="entry"></section>
<br />
<b>The Bornwell Chakaodza Column: Levee Kadenge</b><br />
Zimbabwe is going through very interesting times. Alex Magaisa in his
last Big Saturday Read repeated the Adonija and Solomon biblical story which
had been extensively used by both Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and the
first lady Grace Mugabe in a way that shows that there are behind-the-scenes
manoeuvres that are very clear to them. Perhaps someone wants to anoint
themselves as the next president.<br />
<br />
One asks, what are we in for as a nation? Professor Jonathan Moyo earlier
quoted Ecclesiastes 3, “Everything has its own time,” soon after Grace
had demanded that President Robert Mugabe appoint his successor. I won’t bother
you readers by repeating the same yet one is clearly tempted.<br />
<br />
I will venture to say that “there is nothing new under the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 1: 9b). Indeed, in times like these we cannot help but turn
to the Bible to seek wisdom. It is not surprising that in every situation
when things are frightening, even those who claim not to be religious seek the
wisdom from the holy book(s). <br />
<br />
Nigerians who have had their president staying in the UK for over two months
now seeking medical help are better off because at least they know that their
president is sick.<br />
<br />
Some African nations do not even admit that they have a crisis. What we
get are denials and even threats for saying anything like that. We have no
problems except those caused by outsiders.<br />
<br />
Nigerians have turned to God/Allah as they appeal to their religious leaders
across the religions to pray for their ailing president. At least they know
that their dear leader is not well, therefore he needs their prayers. Such are
the differences across the continent.<br />
<br />
As Zimbabweans, we can safely pray for God to intervene in our situation
when we get such conflicting statements which range from telling us we will be
led by the president even when he is in the wheelchair, he would rule even from
his coffin to the latest call and appeal from the same first lady to the
president to choose and appoint a successor. Every normal citizen cannot help
but be concerned as to what is going on.<br />
<br />
Historians will tell us that history repeats itself. Political analysts will
talk of Machiavellian tactics. As a theologian, I can only look for a message
of hope even in these times of hopelessness. What is left is for the
nation to go to the mountains and call to God for his divine intervention.<br />
<br />
Compounded by the election fever that is being hyped by the youth interface
rallies, we are left wondering what is happening in our midst. What are
the youths learning from our esteemed leaders? Rallies have become places
for certain individuals to be dressed down. It seems no one is immune
now. Who knew we could be treated to such theatrical episodes.<br />
<br />
There is also this talk of the politics leading the gun and not the gun
leading the politics. Perhaps, there is more to it than meets the eye.<br />
<br />
What we are left with is only to appeal to the almighty. Since we are
now being encouraged that there is a time for everything we take it that those
in the know are telling us that we should expect what we never thought would
happen. We still carry on with our question, what is everything that has its
time now?<br />
<br />
What we know is that God will not allow that which we cannot handle.
Whatever he lets us through, he gives us the know withal to deal with that he
permits to come our way.<br />
<br />
So far the last 37 years have been very eventful. The world has been
furnished with our ups and downs in all sort of ways including some very
dramatic. The good thing, though, is that God has a full picture of our
chequered history. We live by faith and are always hopeful that we will
arrive safely at our destiny.<br />
<br />
When there was a war with the Israelites, the young man who was accompanying
the prophet, Elisha was so frightened by the overwhelming presence of the enemy
army. The prophet had only to ask of Lord to open the eyes of the lad to
see the great army on their side. (2 Kings 6 v 17). The young man was so
relieved when he saw this mighty army that was on their side. God was
fighting from their side.<br />
<br />
In situations of hopelessness we must not lose hope. These are the times
God will come to our rescue. Surely, Zimbabweans are at such a stage. We
are crushed left, right and centre and no longer know from where our help will
come from. Surely, our help comes from the Lord.<br />
<br />
We keep on hoping that we may soon know what is happening so that we can
pray intelligently.<br />
What Zimbabweans are yearning for is for sanity to prevail. Faced with
the impending elections and the confusion of a seemingly transitional period,
we are between the deeper seas and the monster.<br />
<br />
When the Israelites were
faced with crossing the flooded river on their journey to their promised land,
they panicked, only for God to come to their rescue. We dare ask, what
are the plans God has for us, his peace-loving people?<br />
<br />
As religious people there is no need to lose sleep. We are still on
the journey to our land of milk and honey. Times like these are there to
test our faith. We indeed are more than conquerors. <br />
<br />
The good thing is that God keeps his side of the promise always, that he
would be with us to the end. We are in the safest of hands in spite of
the panic in the camp.<br />
<br />
God has from time to time caused commotion in the camps of the strong.
God is biased towards the weak and the meek. When things seem to fall
apart that is when God comes to our help. The weak seem to be God’s
favourites. On such matters God does not sit on the fence, he is on the
side of those who are suffering.<br />
<br />
Let it be our prayer that those who are in the camp of the strong do not
devour each other. We know that when elephants fight, the grass
suffers. If there is time to pray for our nation, it is now.
Zimbabweans are such a peace-loving nation that they would shudder to see the
nation being torn apart simply because of transitional issues that are not
being resolved. <br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear!<br />
<br />
<b>Levee Kadenge is a theologian based at United Theological College,
Harare. He can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com</b>Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-44645295171911362002017-08-01T19:54:00.000+02:002017-08-01T19:54:51.772+02:00 Churches should not be involved in partisan politics<header>
<h1 class="title">
Churches should not be involved in partisan politics</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-07-30T05:00:06+0200">July 30, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section><strong>The Bornwell Chakaodza column: Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong><br />
<strong> </strong> <br />
While we all agree that churches should not be
politically-aligned, but be people inclined at all the times, that does
not rule out political involvement of the church. The main reason why
the church must avoid unhealthy leanings is that most members of
political parties belong to the same churches. There is, therefore, the
danger that a politically-aligned church will try to accommodate
opposing parties.<span id="more-210006720945241"></span><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Individuals should freely participate in political activities and
show by example how to conduct themselves. Christians should be
encouraged to even vie for political positions so that they demonstrate
that they can continue to love those who hold different views from them.
Maybe there is this animosity because Christians are shunning
participating actively in politics. <br />
<br />
The misunderstanding comes in when the church takes its proper role
to protect the interests of people whose rights may be trampled by the
powers-that-be. To silence the church, it is accused of favouring the
opposition. This is the tragedy of African politics. It would be fair
for the church to just be accused of nagging and not be implicated in
regime change projects when it speaks on behalf of the people.<br />
<br />
This is the dilemma of the church. Once it is accused of being
partisan, it has to prove beyond doubt that it indeed is not being
partisan. It will be forced to declare that it is apolitical. Being
apolitical is a very difficult position to take without being
hypocritical. What then follows is that if a church supports the
government, it is not being partisan. Chastising the government becomes
or is interpreted as being anti-government.
<br />
<br />
What the church is being asked to do is to see no evil, hear no evil
for it to be safe. For the church, this will be suicidal. So, what the
church should do is to go for the jugular and call a spade a spade
despite the consequences. This is important for it calls for times of
reprimanding each other for the sake of the well-being of the people.<br />
<br />
Perhaps this is the only way the church and governments should look
at each other as having the common interests of people at heart. Indeed,
the two institutions primarily are there to serve the communities they
superintend. The roles and functions may differ but at the end of the
day, they should compliment each other.<br />
<br />
When the president warns people about false prophets, the church
should study the statement and research on it so that it is also seen to
be concerned about the abuse that is going on, where people are being
used and their hard-earned monies are being fleeced by false prophets.
These are profiteers who are using the problems bedevilling people to
rob them by claiming that they have solutions, which is not always the
case. <br />
<br />
In most African countries, the church is usually perceived as
supporting the opposition. When will we learn that if governments are
being chastised by the church, it is not a question of the church having
preference for the opposition? It is a known fact that churches
supported liberation movements so that people could be freed. That was
not the end of the concern for the church towards the people.<br />
The same should happen in case the opposition gets into power. the
church should play a similar role to protect the rights of the people
and to see to it that justice is done.<br />
<br />
The churches should not compromise truth telling and fighting
corruption in order to please anyone. The church should speak truth to
power in uncompromising terms. Jesus says, “Blessed are you, when they
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matthew 5: 11) In this case, the
church should do its homework so that as they speak they are backed by
facts.<br />
<br />
Even those waiting to get into power — the opposition — they should
also have their fair share of chastisement from the church. The church
becomes the voice of reason in the midst of confusion. We have witnessed
this when there are issues that need mediation. <br />
<br />
Come election time, parties are fighting for political space to win
the hearts and minds of people. The church plays its role of being a
pacifier. The role of the church in this instance is to bring harmony
for the scriptures say “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be
called the children of God.”(Matthew 5: 9).<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
Sitting governments will not find it disturbing being supported by
the church. Opposition parties would also find it disturbing being
shunned by the churches. In normal democracies, the government in power
should get the full support of churches. At the same time the church
should nurture the opposition knowing that they are a
government-in-waiting. The problem arises when the sitting government
is determined to stick to power through foul means.
</div>
Let us move from politics of hatred to politics of competition. If
politics is viewed as a race, then we are meant to enjoy the democratic
systems which we all cry for. Today is my day and tomorrow it may be
yours. Such a peaceful atmosphere should be created by our leaders.
When such an atmosphere prevails, our people will be the most free and
well-served communities.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-4" style="margin: 8px 0;">
My experience has been that one cannot talk strongly against
excesses of government in Africa without being accused of having a
regime change agenda. It is almost unpardonable to talk about regime
change.
</div>
In a normal society, there should be nothing wrong with changing
governments. In most two-party democracies, it has been the case that
these two have to rotate to rule their countries. Africa has had some of
the majority of the longest serving leaders. Perhaps there is lack of
succession plans/strategies. The opposition leaders in Uganda accuse
Yoweri Museveni of vying for life presidency.<br />
<br />
In other countries, the sitting president is declared a life
president before he even gets to a rally. The state run papers would
already have published what is going to be declared by the people who
will be addressed in a couple of days to come. Such is the politics in
Africa. It’s like child play.<br />
<br />
The state capture of public institutions is beyond comprehension. The
argument is that this is their moment and they have to use it because
come next time it will be yours. If it was as simple as that then there
would be no problem, but the intention is that never should the
opposition have an opportunity to be in power.<br />
<br />
It is our hope that one of these days, churches would be free to
invite any leader of any political party to come and address them at
their gatherings without undue pressure to stop them from doing that.
This has been the practice of many an African government. The
intelligence organisations have always put pressure on leaders or
influential members of the church not to be inclusive in their
invitations.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear!<br />
<strong>Levee Kadenge is a Theologian based at United Theological College, Harare. He can be contacted on leveekadenge@gmail.com</strong><br />
<br />
<em>*As The Standard celebrates 20 years, it pays tribute to the late
Bornwell Chakaodza who was editor of the paper from 2002 to 2005.</em><br />
<article class="post-210006720945241 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion">
</article>Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-25183588362930707922017-07-24T12:13:00.000+02:002017-07-24T12:26:22.841+02:00Christians should rise above being used<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h1>
Christians should rise above being used</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 23, 2017 <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<br />
<b>The Bornwell Chakaodza column Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</b><br />
<br />
Why is it that towards every election our nation is gripped by immense fear,
yet around 80% of our people claim to be Christians? There are several reasons,
a few of which we will discuss today. While there is much talk about state
capture by powerful individuals, as is the case in South Africa by the Gupta
family, the church in Zimbabwe has been captured by the state.<br />
<br />
There is no plausible reason why a whole nation, as big as South Africa,
should be held to ransom by a family. The same should go for the church. That
it has been captured by the state shows that there is something fundamentally
wrong. Both the state and the church are very powerful institutions that should
command respect from each other.<br />
<br />
Once the state is allowed to silence the church at any point without any
moral reason, then questions should be answered by the church itself. States
are very good at employing tactics of divide and rule. Sometimes they even
create church organisations to run parallel to existing ones for their own
selfish reasons. State created church organisations give themselves a semblance
of legitimacy.<br />
<br />
These are faith-based organisations meant to gloss over state excesses. They
are given resources both in cash and kind to spread a view favourable to the
ruling elite’s continued existence. Christians should rise above being
used by politicians.<br />
<br />
Individuals have also been sponsored by governments to masquerade as
legitimate church leaders and these from time to time are interviewed to give
an opinion contrary to the correct position of the church. A good example is
when the church stands up against the poverty that has been spawned by
corruption in the country. The explanation given by those sponsored church
leaders is that those who are against corruption or other vices by the state
are anti-government and therefore support regime change. In a big way, they
would have also been corrupted by being sponsored to do various tasks that
support the powers-that-be to facilitate their continued stay in power. Because
they are benefitting from the support they get, they do not realise that it is
only for a while.<br />
<br />
In some instances, these church leaders have been given large pieces of land
to parcel out to would-be voters. The intention is tantamount to bribery. Who
does not want stands?<br />
<br />
Corruption quickly creeps in and we find that those stands are given to
particular party supporters. These church leaders will pretend all is well when
they are being used to divide people in the name of using public land to
benefit a few. When that happens, those who stand for justice are vilified. The
church should speak truth to power without fear or favour. Government can also
come up with ways to curb the influence of the church by applying what is known
as the low intensity conflict approach on church officials. South
American states majored in this approach, whereby church officials would be monitored
and blackmailed so as to keep them in check.<br />
<br />
Perhaps this is why Jesus prayed for his disciples towards the end of his
ministry when he said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated
them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep
them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into
the world, even so have also I sent them into the world.” (John 17: 14-18). <br />
<br />
Such is the scourge of Africa. Those in power will always want to
retain power by use of corrupt methods in the name of being benevolent to those
in need. What we do not realise is that such overtures are gimmicks to turn
people into being blind followers. People no longer see their real need for
jobs because of the pieces of land, which in most cases remain pieces of land
because the beneficiaries do not have money to start construction work. <br />
<br />
Yet during the whole period one is in power, there is need to demonstrate
that a government has people at heart by creating opportunities so that all
live in peace and harmony. What we see is that towards elections these
programmes of so-called empowering people come at the wrong time for those who
can only make a claim of owning a piece of land they cannot even service.<br />
<br />
What a travesty when powers-that-be dangle carrots which we cannot eat. The
result is that the generality of people will be enticed by such gifts so that
they support the status quo. For those who benefit from this Father
Christmas approach, they are held captive by the system. This is holding
captive the suffering masses.<br />
<br />
If only people knew that they have all it takes because of their
numbers. There is greater power in the masses than in the power of
corruption which often caters for the few. Why can’t the people demand
what they really need — freedom? States will not give people freedom
unless they demand it. <br />
<br />
The worst they can do is to give people the crumbs under the table and call
that empowerment. We then revel in the understanding that half a loaf is
better than nothing. Is this the uhuru that we fought for? We struggled
so that no one would again be forced to do what they do not want to do.
We fought against coercion and we thought we were free but what we experience
are even worse conditions that border on slavery.<br />
<br />
Did people fight to sleep in the open streets at night lest if one goes home
they will not afford to come back the next day to sell their wares? Did people
fight to sleep on queues waiting for their hard-earned cash only to be told
that there is no money at the bank? <br />
<br />
People join queues at local banks as early as possible. When the bank
opens an official from the financial institution comes out and counts people
who will be served that day. The rest are told not to waste their time
but to go home.<br />
<br />
These are the things the church should encourage government to address and
not to wait until towards elections. Good programmes have come in too late only
to be used for campaigning purposes. The main benefactors end up being those
who are well placed. <br />
<br />
Is it not true that those who are influential end up having more than one
farm? Those who are powerful end up getting more inputs than others. In most
cases, the majority of them do not even deserve to be assisted.<br />
<br />
Such good schemes end up benefitting those who have and those who do not
have influence end up picking the crumbs. All these things are done under
the nose of the church. The influence of the church should help to liberate and
not to enslave. There is great temptation for states to do selfish things in
the name of helping people yet their intention is to capture the masses so that
they are manipulated.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear. <br />
<br />
<b>Levee Kadenge is a Theologian based at United Theological College.
He can be contacted on </b><br />
<b>leveekadenge@gmail.com or Twitter @LeveeKadenge</b><br />
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Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-85261044627314299642017-07-24T11:10:00.001+02:002017-07-24T12:25:49.069+02:00Church and state, two sides of the same coin<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h1>
Church and state, two sides of the same coin</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-07-16T05:00:03+0200">July
16, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span>
</div>
<br />
<section class="entry"></section>
<b>The Bornwell Chakaodza column: </b><br />
<b>Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</b><br />
<br />
The state and church should work together so that people get maximum benefit
from these two institutions created by God. What we have observed,
however, is that the two institutions seem not to trust each other. Because of
this dissonance, the generality of the people are left hanging without knowing
where to turn to so that the fortunes of any nation are fairly shared.<span id="more-210006720944975"></span><br />
<br />
It was St Augustine who in his book the City of God introduced the idea of
the two arms of God which were mandated to be complimentary to each other for
the purposes of conducting the affairs of human kind. The third arm is
the family, which is not subject of today’s deliberations.<br />
<br />
The benefits of working together result in pulling together the efforts from
the two arms to enhance the conditions of nations. Checks and balances
should be put in place so that no one is left behind. The two are service
providers in their different areas of influence. Once they listen to each
other, there will be progress of unprecedented proportions.<br />
<br />
What we often see on the ground is that because of lack of trust, each side
is busy protecting its turf. Paul expected that leaders would aim to
improve their nations like the Roman emperor of his time did when he was
implementing progressive programmes for all the people in the empire. <br />
<br />
This led Paul to write: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For
there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13: 1-2)<br />
<br />
Paul was writing to those in the Roman Empire who were enjoying the benefits
of being well led. Little did he know that there would be dictators in
future in the likes of Adolf Hitler and those of his likes in our present times
dotted across the world! <br />
<br />
The above scriptures are quoted by many a Christian trying to apply them to
situations, which are intolerable. God did not say Pharaoh was doing a
good job when he was oppressing the Israelites during their stay in Egypt. When
God had seen that his people had suffered much at the hands of Egyptian ruler,
He sent Moses to liberate them.<br />
<br />
We must bear in mind that when leaders are misruling their people they
should be resisted. The same Paul goes on to say that: “For, rulers are
not a terror to good works, but to the evil.”(vs3) God is always on the
side of the oppressed. He is interested to see that all the people have their
liberties guaranteed.<br />
<br />
Not all Pharaohs were cruel to the Israelites. It is only when the
Pharaohs who did not know Joseph came into power that is when the children of
Israel were subjected to harsh conditions. The new king Pharaoh was
jealous at the numbers and the progress of the Israelites. The king suspected
that the disgruntled Israelites would join foreign armies and fight the
Egyptians, hence the enmity.<br />
<br />
In this modern era, nations should abide by the agreed conditions that are
set by international standards. In our case we have the Sadc conditions — be
they electoral or other principles which each nation is expected to follow in
terms of being fair to their subjects. Leaders who break Sadc guidelines should
be called to order.<br />
<br />
Who can call to order governments breaking the set conditions other than the
churches? In this country there are electoral laws that have to be
regularised so that there is a levelled playing field in the next elections in
2018. Pointing to such anomalies earn one the label of opposition. Yet it is
everyone’s responsibility to demand that the right thing be done.<br />
<br />
Surely the church should not standby and allow those in authority to flout
their own rules. Nations get divided along those lines whereby others are
forced to support the unfair conditions while those asking for equity are
accused of supporting regime change. The church’s business is to point
out anomalies wherever they show their ugly faces.<br />
<br />
If by any chance there arises opposition parties that are bent on misleading
people by fomenting violence, the churches must be able to raise the red flag and
warn them of these misdemeanours forthwith. In that sense, churches would
be seen as being fair in their dealings with all who aspire to rule their
nations. The church should be seen to be the watchdog of all the citizens.<br />
<br />
For any responsible authority to cry foul when institutions like the church
play their rightful duty to be watchdogs of the people they shepherd is only
begging to be reprimanded. On the other hand, the government should also
protect the citizens from churches that fleece their members of their
hard-earned money. Although the laws provide for freedom of worship, the
powers-that-be should not pay a blind eye to clear extortions in some churches.<br />
<br />
The church and state are each brother’s keeper. Conditions should be created
such that each side should be free to chastise the other. It also follows that
when one institution fails to respect the rights of people the other should
fight for the rights of the people.<br />
<br />
The church is always in a dilemma because it is viewed as opposing the governments
of the day. That only comes by when the churches are only there to look
for faults and not even praising when the government does right things. The
churches should, therefore, create conditions of engagement with the powers
that be.<br />
<br />
The good thing which is observable in the Sadc region is that even churches
also relate at regional level as represented by the Fellowship of Council of
Churches in Southern Africa This, like Sadc, should come up with standards
which will be expected of each national council of churches so that whenever
issues of miss-governance arise, they are there to come in with appropriate
advice.<br />
<br />
Recently, in May the Zimbabwe Council of Churches hosted solidarity visitors
from the World Council of Churches which was led by the general secretary the
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. Such visits are important because they show that
the world church is concerned about affairs of each of our nations. As
our churches are exposed to ideas from other nations we improve our ways of
facing problems that arise within our borders.<br />
<br />
From what has been said above, the church and state are two sides of one
coin, they cannot do without each other. No one should be in the position
to silence the other. Doing so will only make matters worse. This
calls for constant touch with each other so that matters are dealt with before
confrontations arise when the other raises point of order.<br />
<br />
There is great scope in working in harmony between the state and church as
long as there is no intimidation from either party. The church should be
encouraged to speak truth to power. This calls for highly dedicated church
leadership which will also live up to the standard even expected by the
government. Laws are made to provide maximum leverage to the people to exercise
their rights for the progress of humanity and not to subjugate them.<br />
<br />
Let those with ears hear!<br />
<b>Comments and queries to leveekadenge@gmail.com</b>Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-5357767183332718072017-07-11T15:50:00.001+02:002017-07-24T12:24:44.169+02:00Let’s acknowledge men of cloth in politics<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">Let’s acknowledge men of
cloth in politics</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">July 9,
2017 in </span><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Opinion</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Bornwell Chakaodza column</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Standard July 9 to 15 2017</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One finds
it puzzling to hear some politicians say that politics is an area other sectors
of society like the church should not be involved in</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I find
this disturbing. I am not in any way trying to push pastors into the fray.
Perhaps history can enlighten us on what has happened in the development of African
politics and put the record straight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In South
Africa the first president of the ANC in 1912 was Rev John Langalibalele Dube
of the Congregational Church in South Africa. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
founder and first leader of the first political party, the Southern Rhodesia
African National Congress (ANC), sometimes known as Bantu Congress in the
1930s, was the Rev T D Samkange of the Methodist Church. He was chosen
president of the Bantu Congress in 1943. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
ministers were fighting against racism when blacks were not allowed to enter
shops, but to make purchases through windows. This was a precursor to future
struggles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rev
Ndabaningi Sithole founded, and was the chief architect of Zanu in 1963 in
conjunction with Herbert Chitepo, Robert Mugabe, Edgar Tekere in Enos Nkala’s
Highfield house. At a party congress in Gwelo, Sithole was elected
president and appointed Mugabe as secretary general. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The idea
in all these leaders was not that they wanted to be presidents. Instead they
were chosen by the people and God to facilitate a process at a time when
perhaps there were gaps. Their roles were to push through an agenda of
the people. I am sure they did not even enjoy their roles because then it was
tough and risky. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of
the pastors who went into politics have been soiled in the process because they
wanted to be honest to their call in politics. It is very easy to tarnish
pastors’ images even if they are genuine. The world is very good at character
assassination and this has been done with impunity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The irony
of the matter is that if one is not a pastor and soils himself or herself they
can be protected even when their backs are bare. But should we let things
go on like that where capable people from among the clergy who want to help are
scared away because people choose to bully them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the
late 1970s the Rev Andrew Majoni Ndhlela of the Methodist Church went both to
Geneva and Lancaster House Conference offering chaplaincy to all parties
in both places. Rev Ndhlela, Bishop Lamont of the Catholic and Bishop Skelton of
the Anglican Church pioneered the formation of the Rhodesia Council of Churches
(RCC) — now Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) — in 1964, which clearly did not
support the Ian Smith regime. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was
not easy for them to break away from a white-dominated missionary council
(called Rhodesian Conference of Churches). These clergy fought hard to send a
clear message and convince the World Council of Churches (WCC) that it was
necessary for the church to support the liberation struggle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A desk to
combat racism was established at WCC in Geneva, and Dr Nathan Shamuyarira was
appointed to head that desk for some time. These efforts were not small at the
time. At home the Rev Herbert Chikomo of the Presbyterian Church became
the first general secretary of RCC. Threats came from Smith who promised
to close the council because it was supporting the war of liberation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1967
the council went on to form Christian Care as a social welfare arm which became
a lifeline for the detainees and their families. It paid fees for the
children of detainees and provided food for their families. Those in
prison were provided with fees to further their education. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is
disturbing now is that when pastors get involved in politics, they are attacked
because some individuals think they have the monopoly of helping people enjoy
the benefits of independence. Yet we are in this together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
church, it is our mandate to pray for our leaders. But we do not stop
there. The church has the duty to scrutinise those in any leadership positions
because of the crucial roles played by these in terms of giving direction to
society. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bishop
Ralph Dodge of the United Methodist Church played a crucial role in sending
Africans abroad for further education at a time it was treasonous to help
indigenous people. Bishop Dodge passed on the baton to Bishop Abel
Muzorewa who was also a beneficiary of such a scholarship. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever
people may say about the late Muzorewa, the truth is he played the midwifery
role to the birth of independence in Zimbabwe. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the
only Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, he was embroiled in many unpleasant
things like all midwives go through. Zimbabwe-Rhodesia became the cross-over
channel which then ushered in the independence that we enjoy now. As PM he had
to give in to so many demands some of which compromised him.<br />
<br />
Prof. Rev Canaan Banana the former first President of Zimbabwe was instrumental
in bringing together the two political parties Zanu and Zapu in 1987. He later
became a diplomat of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indeed
caterpillars are not allowed to use the roads they pioneer. There will
always be people who are very good at wanting to get all the credit. Most
Zimbabweans who are close to either side of the 60-year age group fought the
war of liberation in various ways. Yes, there were those who sold out. These
were in both camps. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the
same vein, there should be respect for this generation. No one looks down upon
the role played by those who held guns. But as we all know, there were many who
jumped on the bandwagon that may not have actually fought in the war.
Sometimes these are the ones who make a lot of noise by way of compensating for
not contributing to the struggle.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From 2003
Bishop Sebastian Bakare of the Anglican Church, Bishop Patrick Mutume of the
Catholic Church and Bishop Trevor Manhanga of the Evangelical Fellowship of
Zimbabwe played yet another midwifery role as they shuttled between MDC and
Zanu PF when there was a stalemate.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">All their
efforts, including those of the Christian Alliance which subsequently chaired
the Save Zimbabwe Campaign ushered in the government of national unity (GNU) in
2008.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We may
have misgivings about the GNU but look at the Constitution. A very
difficult process indeed, but we now have a Constitution which we as
Zimbabweans are proud of. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then the
economy of this country took a new turn. It should be the prayer of every
Zimbabwean that the phase we are going through be handled holistically so that
we benefit from the vast resources this country is endowed with.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Corrupt
officials should be held to book. This is not the time to hide behind
political factions while pushing agendas that destroy the nation. The GNU, in
spite of its pitfalls, demonstrated that Zimbabweans can at least agree on a
number of issues which take this nation forward. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pastor or
layperson we all have the duty to seriously consider our beautiful country
first. All efforts to restore our dignity should be the business of every
Zimbabwean worthy of such a name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let those
with ears hear!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*As The
Standard celebrates 20 years, it pays tribute to the late Bornwell Chakaodza
who was editor of the paper from 2002 to 2005.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-71677699320812987742017-07-02T20:06:00.002+02:002017-07-02T20:06:58.236+02:00<header>
<h1 class="title">
The clergy must be allowed space in politics</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-07-02T05:00:50+0200">July 2, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span> </div>
<section class="entry">
</section><br />
<strong>The Bornwell Chakaodza column </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>by Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong> <br />
There is this fallacy pushed into our minds by some of
our African leaders who pontificate that the church should not be
involved in politics. They are saying Christians should not be
participants. The irony of the matter is that those who say that are
devout members of the same faith. The agenda of these leaders is to
narrow down the numbers of competent leaders who are capable of taking
us from our doldrums. They nevertheless need the Christians’ prayers and
votes.<span id="more-210006720944630"></span><br />
<br />
They make it appear as if they are the only ones who are destined to
rule. This is buttressed by this idea of liberation movements across
Africa ganging up to maintain their grip on power in their respective
countries. As a result, we are frightened into our corners of submission
such that we do not dare involve ourselves lest we face the
consequences meted out on those who trespassed into the prohibited area.
Politics becomes their sacred space.
<br />
<br />
Let it be clear that the idea of scaring the church is a ploy to rule
out formidable competition from so many talented people across the
religious divide. Those who dissuade others are actually charlatans who
are bent on pushing an agenda of elimination by substitution. Politics,
they have declared, is their turf. Yet politics is everyone’s game. As
long as we are human beings, we are by that virtue, political animals.
Every creation on earth involves itself in politics in one way or
another.<br />
<br />
The sad thing is that we have tended to believe this lie and
propaganda. The game that is played is that as soon as those capable
Christians, some who maybe priests, bishops etc talk politics they
become targets and are threatened with phrases like “if you want to join
politics, come in the arena and we take off our gloves and fight it
out.” This kind of attitude forces many potential candidates to shy away from
involvement in politics. Yet the politicians will visit many religious
groups, especially African initiated/independent churches to canvass for
votes.<br />
<br />
What they want are votes. These leaders have become experts in using
others and not wanting them to take leadership roles. Africa becomes
the poorer because our leaders want to monopolise politics and make it
their only preserve against any other new comers who want to venture
into politics. We have seen that most of those brave Christian leaders
who have dared go into the ring are either blackmailed or worse things
like character assassination happen to them. Such is the scourge of
Africa.
<br />
<br />
What our leaders have done is to make politics appear dirty by being
divisive so as to dominate. <br />
Then they invite us to come in and play the
dirty game with them. It seems it is deliberate to make politics
appear like a dirty game. The worst thing is that we have also accepted
that politics should be made dirty. The word politics is derived from
the Latin word polis meaning human affairs.<br />
<br />
The emphasis that they fought for independence has been employed by
our leaders as a propaganda tool to cow the populace into believing
their lie that it is only them that are ordained to rule. There is no
school one should go to for them to qualify for presidency. The various
African leaders have come from different professions and some from
none. Our own president was a teacher. The recently installed leader of
Gambia, Adama Barrow, was a security guard when he was studying in the
United Kingdom. Name them one by one and none of them even went to a
school of political science.<br />
<br />
The best leaders in the history of politics are those who have people
at heart. Africa’s iconic leader Nelson Mandela was a president only
for a term and relinquished office. So we are not short of examples. In
Tanzania, we have had several presidents passing on the button to
younger generations. There is, therefore, no excuse because some leaders
whom we all agree have been exemplary are there for Africa to showcase.<br />
<br />
The tragedy of African politics is that those who come into office
take it as a life career that must take them to the grave. Perhaps to
entice them into retirement, why can’t the continent come up with
packages that attract the leadership of this continent to move on and
leave space for others. The Ibrahim Fund which was instituted by an
Arabic tycoon to reward good African leadership is a step in the right
direction.<br />
<br />
It is normally towards elections that our leaders up the game of
propaganda to make it appear as if it is impossible to get into
politics. Hats off to those Christian leaders who have dared delve into
politics. The late Bishop Abel Muzorewa and the likes of the late
Canaan Banana were such giants who have not been recognised as pillars
of African politics. They have been denigrated simply because they were
seen as potential threats to the current leadership.<br />
<br />
I have written elsewhere that Muzorewa was the “midwife” of
Zimbabwean Independence. He had to be involved in the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
interim government, not that it was the best option, but for the sake of
transitioning power from Europeans to Africans. such an arrangement had
to be there to get us where we finally ended at.<br />
<br />
It should be understood that the architect of politics is God
himself. When he created human beings, he arranged that they be ruled
directly by himself through the provision of religious leaders. It was
until the people of Israel complained to God that they wanted to have
kings like other nations. God was very clear to Samuel, the priestly
ruler of the nation of Israel at the time that by virtue of the people
complaining that they wanted a king, they were rejecting Him.<br />
<br />
God gave in and begrudging asked Samuel to anoint Saul with the clear
indication that he would be the worst ruler ever. Indeed, Saul did not
follow God’s instructions and he abandoned Him. To rescue his children
God asked Samuel to anoint David even when Saul was still king. In a
sense, we can say God staged the first bloodless coup in the history of
nations. A leading local scholar Rev Dr Kennedy Gondongwe said on a
radio programme recently that “the master politician is God himself and
his son Jesus was almost a politician”.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
Jesus was indeed the politician par excellence when he declared at
the beginning of his ministry that, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath
sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of the sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke
4: 1-4) </div>
Christ, however, rose above such humanly expectations and instead
chose to up his liberation mantra higher by choosing to liberate
humanity from all other ills, including forgiving sin which no one
except him alone could do.<br />
<div class="code-block code-block-4" style="margin: 8px 0;">
He still remains the liberator par-excellence. Jesus recused himself
from worldly politics but ordained all who dare care for his creation to
participate with his blessings.
</div>
Let those with ears hear!<br />
<strong>*As The Standard celebrates 20 years, it pays tribute to the
late Bornwell Chakaodza who was editor of the paper from 2002 to 2005.</strong><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-73333043312251246602017-06-24T15:42:00.001+02:002017-06-24T15:47:17.468+02:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Zim’s silver lining is its skilled
workforce<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Bornwell Chakaodza <i>column</i>
The Standard June 18 to 24 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most
African countries thought that attaining independence meant total freedom and
enjoyment the bounty of our unlimited resources across the continent. But the reality
on the ground is that since we started ruling ourselves, we have faced
challenges that range from those created from outside and those that we generated
ourselves. Zimbabwe has not been an
exception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As
we are aware, each African country has been unique in how they forged ahead
under very difficult circumstances.
Amidst the teething and perennial problems of Africa, there are people
who will without hesitation, claim that they have enjoyed it from day one of
independence up to now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On
the other hand, there are those who have never enjoyed the benefits of the
freedom except in name only. Some of our
leaders have been so cruel to their kith and kin simply because they differed
with the political systems that they put in place. It became a crime to have a
different opinion, let alone to belong to an opposing party. The brutality that was employed left so many
losing limb and life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those
who have dared to think differently from the ruling elite, had it tough from
inception. Most ruling parties have seen
it as their sole right to govern and have no room for outsiders, as it were, to
have a chance to share in the governing of their countries. Consolidation of
power became the desired route for our leaders who have left no stone unturned
to maintain their grip on power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
see this even in Zimbabwe that soon after independence when Zipra forces were
not satisfied with some issues and Zanla seeing this as unwarranted disobedience
there were clashes in Entumbane which ended with killings and protracted
fighting which culminated in the Gukurahundi debacle in the greater part of the
1980s that saw the demise of more than 20 000 souls in Matebeleland and
Midlands provinces, that our president admitted that “it was a moment of
madness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Many locals started leaving the country in
droves to the safety of South Africa. Even though this part of the country has
always exported labour down south but because of the harsh conditions that were
created by the fighting, the numbers went up as even those who had jobs left for
safety reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For
survival, people on Matabeleland devised a way of crossing the crocodile
invested Limpopo river and heavily guarded South African boarder. The locals
came up with a plan called <b>dabulaphu </b>(tear
up<b>)</b>. This is a process of crossing
the border without formal documents.
This was done as a last resort because looking for documents would take
time yet someone would be desperate to leave the distressing situation. Our
leaders made us criminals right from the word go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
writer was a minister/pastor at a place called Ndolwane (1982 -84} and was a
witness of the brutalities that left homes and villages decimated in
unprecedented proportions. Such was the situation that prompted the author to
assess the prevailing situation that was deteriorating by the day. For the first time we were all forced to buy
party political membership cards. Without the card you were not safe, it was
your passport to travel. Such was the intolerance that was shown to the citizenry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
second election of 1985 saw many Zimbabweans not thinking twice about leaving
the country for safety abroad. And now it was not only South Africa, but also
to other parts of the world. To date Zimbabweans of all professions which
number over three to five million have found refuge in almost around the world.
It became acute each time elections were held, sons and daughters of Zimbabwe
who could make it found themselves leaving this country in droves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now
it was a questions of professionals and none professionals leaving, it was like
everyone who could make it dared to venture the diaspora way. The coming of a formidable opposition in 1999
opened a Pandora’s box as it were. Those
Zimbabweans who were affiliating to opposition politics were targets. The only
alternative was to leave their homeland for the unknown. Among the above group were both the so-called
economic and political refugees. Most of these people did not choose to leave
voluntarily. They were forced by the
conditions they found themselves in to move out. Such removals, most of them involuntarily,
have not been rose all the time. Homes
and families have been destroyed by distances that were created when one or
some members of the families were separated.
These disruptions and the consequences thereof will be subject of the following
instalments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
good thing that we want to pick on today is the exposure that Zimbabweans who
left this country could not have had in their lives had it not been of the
disruptive conditions that were created by the intolerable attitude of the
powers that be that obtained at their time of leaving. The lucky ones went as
families while the majority seem to have not been so fortunate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
South Africa there has been a record inflow of engineers and other technocrats in
most of their city councils with some becoming chief city and town engineers
dotted across the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Across
the border most of those that have left this country have not forgotten their
families. They have looked back in big
ways. They have sent remittances from time to time and this nation has
benefitted from such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God
willing, one of these days when sense knocks on our doors all these who have
had such an exposure will be some of the assets who have had another experience
which will be put to use in a big way when they eventually come back. It is not the intention of the author to
project an idea that the best is for them to come back. At the same time I am not saying they should
not come home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When
the biblical Joseph who was sold by his brothers finally became prime minister
in Egypt he did not revenge them, instead he was very magnanimous when he said
to them, “But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto
good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis
50 vs 20). It is our prayer that all
Zimbabweans who have found themselves displaced may be positive towards their
nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those
with ears let them hear!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Rev Dr Levee Kadenge<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">*As <i>The Standard </i>celebrates 20 years, it
pays tribute to the late Bornwell Chakaodza who was editor of the paper from
2002 to 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-88177963730136041262017-06-14T16:22:00.001+02:002017-06-14T16:22:19.839+02:00<header>
<h1 class="title">
Zimbabweans must not despair but keep hope alive</h1>
</header>
<div class="post-meta">
<abbr class="date time published" title="2017-06-11T05:00:08+0200">June 11, 2017</abbr> <span class="small">in</span> <span class="categories"><a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/opinion/" title="View all items in Opinion">Opinion</a></span></div>
<div class="post-meta">
<span class="categories"> </span><strong>the Bornwell Chakaodza column by </strong><strong>Rev Dr Levee Kadenge</strong><br />
</div>
<section class="entry">
</section>What has the last 37 years bequeathed Zimbabweans as we
fast-approach the biblical 40 years in the wilderness that the
Israelites endured to reach the Promised Land? The attainment of
independence in 1980 was only one stage of leaving oppression by the
colonial government, yet the journey to our destiny has been likened to
the journey to Canaan.<span id="more-210006720944186"></span><br />
<strong></strong><strong><br /></strong>
Moses was raised by God to liberate his people who would not dare be
political in case they were declared enemies of the state. Bondage was a
reality for all the Israelites until God decided to liberate them on
his own. Should we wait for God to liberate us?<br />
<br />
Like the Israelites, we find ourselves in dire straits but we do not
know who to turn to for our liberation. We are quickly reminded that we
are liberated and should be eternally grateful. <br />
<br />
We are all political animals, but in African politics, it’s either
you belong and you are safe or you don’t and you are vulnerable. You
hear many an African leader bragging “losing elections is by choice when
you are a ruling party.” <br />
<div class="code-block code-block-1" style="float: right; margin: 8px 0 8px 8px;">
The politics of consensus has been thrown into the dustbin of
history. This is why on our way to final freedom, most African countries
tried a one-party state soon after independence. When shall we come up
with a home-grown system of African politics?
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For lack of a proper home-grown system of governance which is
user-friendly, we ended up copying foreign and unfriendly systems into
our continent. The result is that Africa is not really stable. While in
the west, multi-party democracy is something they pride themselves in,
for Africa, it is a luxury we can do without. </div>
<br />
Some ask why we should go for elections when you can predict the
results? The ordinary men and women are held to ransom by African
leaders for they either acquiesce or behave otherwise and face the
consequences. When one is in the system, they stand to enjoy the
benefits of joining the gravy train, or face the poverty song when
outside the system. <br />
<br />
It seems the acceptance of a multi-party system was done
begrudgingly. While at face value there seems to be tolerance of other
parties other than ruling parties, there is a deep-seated dislike of the
former. This is more pronounced at election time. These are times when
Africa is at war with itself. If there were enough resources, people
would rather go for long breaks outside the country to avoid the hatred
and threats that is the order of our elections. Tolerance is a word not
used by most African leaders.<br />
<br />
Political rallies become the arena of displaying such hatred in the
form of “pasi na….” (down with so and so or rather death to so and so).
Those who want to be safe by not aligning themselves to political
parties would pray that this event never comes. But fate has it that the
most oppressive regimes religiously follow elections without fail and
as legally scheduled. Few rogue ones postpone elections from time to
time.<br />
<br />
When Pharaoh intensified his stubbornness, God did not ignore him. It
seems that God specialises in those leaders who treat subjects badly.
They are given the long rope to hang themselves and as they raise the
banner of oppression, God actually gives them more resolve to retain
power at all cost. <br />
In the case of Pharaoh, after all the efforts to force him to release
the oppressed by sending the calamities/scourges which were crowned by
the deaths of the newly born sons of Egypt, God finally hardened his
heart not to release the children of Israel (Exodus 14 vs 4). When the
children of Israel were released, God again hardened the hearts of both
Pharaoh and the Egyptians who followed the liberated Israelites (Exodus
14 vs 8) who were now on their journey to uhuru (independence). The
Egyptians were led by God to their demise.<br />
<br />
The safest route Africans are forced to take is to declare that they
are apolitical. Once one has been labelled opposition, they carry that
mark to the grave. <br />
<br />
For this reason, we witness groups, communities and individuals being
paraded to renounce their former parties while surrendering their party
cards and regalia. This is done so that one declares their comeback or
total declaration that they no longer belong with the enemy. After this
ritual, one can now sleep well and safety is guaranteed. <br />
<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="float: left; margin: 8px 8px 8px 0;">
We have to remove hatred from our politics so as to enjoy democratic
principles, as practised in the west. People should be able to belong to
different parties and still be friends, or at least not kill each other
because of opposing views.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Artists, clergy and any popular figures are in a quandary. While in
the west these can publicly show their party affiliation, here they
cannot do so. The best they can do is to play safe by standing aloof.
But what they do not realise is that being aloof is also being
political.</div>
<br />
Publicly, they seem to support both sides; when invited they will
accept to perform or to come up with a piece of art created as per
request. As a result of this fear, we have lost talent from these
capable individuals. It is only when they go in to exile that they
develop their talents politically. They can say their minds against the
system from the safety of the diaspora.
<br />
<br />
Perhaps we will enjoy politics when this present generation of rulers has gone.<br />
<br />
Israelites were for too long in bondage plus or minus 400 years with
God’s acquiescence, one would say. No wonder we read towards the end of
their captivity God actually hardened Pharaoh’s heart, in spite of
having chosen Moses to liberate them. As if that was not enough, God
hardened again the hearts of the Egyptian army that followed the
Israelites to where they were camped as they waited to cross over.<br />
<br />
We should not despair. Oliver Mtukudzi says in one of his songs, “we
should not lose hope.” Such like him have soldiered on and not left
their country because of their love for their country. This article is
not saying that those who have left the country do not like it. Africa
needs to be liberated both from foreign types of democracies and from
its oppressive leaders. When are we going to have our own home-grown
type of democracy/governance?<br />
<br />
We should never lose hope. We do not need any modern-day prophet to
tell us that we are destined for greater heights, for the Lord has
already said, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the
Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you hope and an expected
end” (Jeremiah 29: 11).<br />
<em>*As The Standard celebrates 20 years, it pays tribute to the late
Bornwell Chakaodza who was editor of the paper from 2002 to 2005.</em><br />
Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504594389091489896.post-83036407894694336182016-08-24T22:04:00.000+02:002016-08-24T22:04:22.868+02:00ZIMBABWE IS ON FIREZIMBABWE IS ON FIRE<br />
<br />
We find ourselves engulfed by demonstrations which are coming from all sections of the society. Some are organised by individuals, others by groups which range from vendors to professional groups who are dissatisfied by what is going on. Most of the service providers including banks are not meeting the peoples' expectations and this surely is making the generality of the society jittery. The response of the government is to silence people who are showing their concern by allowing police to beat them up when they use their constitutional rights to assemble and conduct peaceful demonstrations. The future is not very clear because we are not sure what will happen next because it seems people are no longer afraid to express themselves. We expect the government to restrain the police and to open dialogue between government and the people so that we avoid a situation where things will go out of hand.Dr Levee Kadengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14361200665578503486noreply@blogger.com0