–– Joe Shoko
The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Recently, Zimbabwe was plunged into yet another shutdown. What is meant by shutdown is when a country comes to a standstill. The usually noisy streets were empty and quiet, the central business district (CBD) resembled a ghost town, and in a sense, being in the middle of it on that day was scary.
For decades, Zimbabwe has been on a downward spiral morally, economically, and politically. The country is no stranger to grabbing international attention through its myriad problems. Imagine a country where state-run hospitals have neither running water nor basic medication such as painkillers. As if that were not enough, extortion, bribery and “back door deals” are the order of the day. It’s normal to see street vendors fleeing from police in the CBD and the outskirts on a daily basis.
Not all Zimbabweans are happy with this situation; some, of course, are passive about everything, and live by the street code, “every man for himself, but God for us all.” In other words, we’re witnessing exactly how the book of Judges in the Bible ended, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” – Judges 21:25.
After former President Robert Mugabe was removed by the military via a coup in 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa took charge of the highest office in the land, but little has changed for the better. In fact, things have only worsened! The cost of living is at an all-time high, even though the medium of exchange is the United States Dollar.
The rampant corruption, coupled with extravagant living by the rich, the famous, and the evil, evoked a war veteran of the liberation struggle named Blessed Geza to send videos on social media from an unknown location, calling for demonstrations against the President and his Government. On the 31st of March 2025, the day of the said demonstrations, Zimbabweans decided to shut down their shops, close all trade and stay at home instead of heeding the call to go on the streets and protest against a regime that has caused untold pain to millions for decades. This is not the first time these strikes have been called for, recent history has recorded strikes after the elections in 2018 and early 2019. This cycle is repetitive, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
While many place their ultimate hope in strikes and supplantations, Christians must think Biblically about these matters. In light of that, here is what Zimbabwe needs in the midst of the turmoil it faces.
- The Gospel
The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the good news that Jesus Christ came down from heaven and took upon Himself human flesh so that He would demonstrate God’s love for sinners by dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead for their justification. The gospel liberates people & nations from tyrannical rule fueled by bloodshed and greed.
- A Martin Luther
The Reformation of the 16th century serves as an example that God can raise an obscure, simple man to display His majesty and power. God is often in the business of using the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. This was the case with the German monk, Luther, who was one of the drivers of the Reformation. When Luther stood against the falsehoods and abuse of power of the Roman Catholic papacy, he was not only a catalyst for spiritual change but for political change, for the Roman Catholics were a political powerhouse who made the people groan.
- An Uncompromising Church
The majority of the churches in Zimbabwe are lukewarm and compromised. Many of their leaders have espoused corruption and greed; a far cry from being a prophetic voice against the unrighteousness that plagues the nation. Instead of calling the leaders and populace to repentance in Christ, the church has become complicit by giving in to liberalism and the prosperity gospel. The charlatans that exist here are happy with the political mayhem because if the authorities are consumed by power and oppression, the leaders of these churches can extort money from the ignorant masses undetected.
Many politicians are ignorant of their appointment by God and their position under His rule and authority (Romans 13:1-2). They will one day have to give an account to the Creator of the universe for how they governed. That is a terrifying thought, as Nebuchadnezzar learned. Until Zimbabwe sees the need for the righteousness found in Christ, it will continue circling the drain with no lasting or meaningful solutions. Individual repentance and the fruits thereof are the first step to societal flourishing.