Pastoral care in a context of political, cultural socio-economic injustice : the case of Matabeleland

Abstract

In the polity of Zimbabwe the region of Matabeleland has become synonymous with marginality. It is a region that has, since the arrival of colonialists, been subjected to the brutality of the powers that be. The colonial agenda in the late 19th century brought about impoverishment of the people. Primarily the focus of the colonial protagonists was to destroy the Mthwakazi or Ndebele state to subdue and dominate its people for the benefit of the colonial agenda as enunciated in the 1884 Berlin conference. This did happen and the Ndebele state was annihilated resulting in the heavy losses that included cattle and land. However, paradoxically these injustices did not end with the collapse of colonialism. Since Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence, the region witnessed terror and brutality of political violence unleashed on civilians by the new political administration of black majority rule. This political mayhem left a trail of destruction, not just of the thousands dead and the countless traumatised and maimed but also of the economic plunder leaving people without a basics livelihood. What was envisaged, namely reconciliation, justice, peace, national cohesion, progress and prosperity, did not come to realisation, particularly in Matabeleland. To date the region still suffers serious political, cultural and socio-economic disadvantages. This is the context of the study. In order to facilitate a remedy to a myriad of the many challenges besieging the region this thesis proposes a theological approach of pastoral ministry of care. The aim is to make a practical theological investigation and on this social context with the view of formulating and applying practical methods relevant to the pastoral ministry of care recommendable to the context. Through the mediation of pastoral cycle the study carries out a social analysis as a tool to expose aspects of concern. Hence a means of understanding the context, the study presents a critical historical overview of three major historical periods, the pre-colonial era, the colonial era and the post-colonial era. Each of these periods of history has contributed to the legacy of injustice and political violence that undermines progress and peace not only in Matabeleland, but in the entire country. Historically the Roman Catholic Church has been involved with the country’s political and socio-economic realities. The study investigates that involvement in order to ascertain whether and how the Church can, also in the present and future, play a meaningful role in the region to provide a critical alternative to the status quo.