Lobola in Zimbabwe : a pastoral challenge

Abstract

On one hand African traditionalists regard lobola as part of Africanness and strongly seek its perpetuation. On the other hand reformists consider it primitive and oppressive and seek its abolition. Both acknowledge the lobola struggle that is prevalent in Zimbabwe. Stories abound in the Pentecostal church and Zimbabwean media about lobola abuse. The Lobola struggle exposes the suffering inflicted on the poor among the Shona people of Zimbabwe by their in-laws. This is bound to prompt the Pentecostal Church to confront the injustice and provide healing and wholeness to the victims of the struggle. This research seeks ways to assist the Pentecostal church in Zimbabwe to pastorally care for the victims. The study unpacked the beliefs, ideas, implications and experiences of lobola struggle by co-researchers, using qualitative approaches, to better understand the conceptions and misconceptions that society has, and produce literature to guide the Pentecostal Church on lobola issues. The study empowers pastoral care givers to enter the space of the people affected by the lobola struggle and journey with them towards healing and wholeness.