CHRISTIANITY AND THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE OR THE SECOND CHIMURENGA.

Different Christian churches or denominations played different roles during the second
chimurenga or the second liberation struggle in Zimbabwe. The Second liberation struggle is the
bush war which led to the end of the white minority rule in Rhodesia and to the independence of
Zimbabwe in 1980. It is also known as the second Chimurenga. One can also identify it as the
guerrilla war of 1966 to 1979 which led to the independence of Zimbabwe.

The Catholic Church of Zimbabwe heavily criticized the settler government in the then
Rhodesia because of the atrocities they were committing against the blacks. They did this
through a number of ways. One of the ways was through their magazine known as the motto.
They spoke out against the oppression of the majority of the black people by the minority whites.
One also needs to notice that the Catholic Church educated the indigenous people and trained
some church leaders like Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa and Father Ribeiro. These were to later
play a crucial role in the liberation of Zimbabwe. Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa blessed the flag
of Zimbabwe long back before independence. Many different leaders of the second chimurenga
were educated at the various mission schools. The late Cde Robert Mugabe was one of the
leaders, he was educated at Kutama mission. The different leaders who were educated at the
various mission schools worked hand in hand with the sacred practitioners to fight colonialism.

Another role played by some of the Catholic priests was to offer food, shelter and transport to the
freedom fighters or guerillas. Many Christian churches were used as places of sanctuary or
places of safety, that is, they acted as areas of recruitment of young men and women who joined
the liberation war. The religious practitioners also acted as informants who supplied important
information to the freedom fighters about the whereabouts and movements of the enemy. Father
Ribeiro is known to have helped a lot during the liberation struggle. Cde Robert Mugabe and
Enos Nkala visited him at his Parish house and asked for accommodation. They then planned
their escape out of the country from his Parish house. He also arranged some sisters to help the
two escape to Mozambique.

On another note, Johanne Masowe and Johanne Marange encouraged their followers to refuse or
go against European expressions of Christianity. They encouraged their followers to learn a trade
so as for them to be self – reliant and not to work for the white settlers. In another vein, the
members of the Jehovah Witness also organized themselves and also preached against the
colonial rule or regime. Religious practitioners in the African Instituted Churches also delivered
prophecies that boosted or gave morale, encouraged the masses and the freedom fighters. They
prophesied hope and victory which was later realised in 1980 when the British government
agreed to a ceasefire in 1979.

To conclude, one can notice that Christianity contributed significantly during the second
Chimurenga war of 1966-1979. These ways included supplying information about the

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movements and whereabouts of the enemies. Some individual Christians offered their residence
as homes of refugee to those who were being tracked by the Rhodesian Forces.