“Zimbabweans are desperate for miracles and where one has some form of economic or social deficiency, they will offer their meagre incomes in exchange for the supernatural.”

In his recent article entitled “Religious Entrepreneurship”, Rejoice Nwenya argues that “the tragedy confronting modern-day Christian fundamentalism in Zimbabwe is the potent combination of religion and money.”

“Makandinomics is essentially a gospel of wealth.”

He admits that “in principle, there is nothing wrong with driving spirituality along the lines of building self-confidence in one’s ability to manipulate factors of production for the purpose of profit. However, it is the deceit inherent in the give-so-that-you-may-receive-in-abundance message that irks me.”

He sees two challenges that are embedded in this “new” form of religion:

The first is that local gospreneurship which I will [call] Christian Makandinomics, for want of a term, is anti-Christ voodoo capitalism. Second, I have a strong case against “bishops” like Nolbert Kunonga and Obadiah Musindo, Emmanuel Makandiwa included, taking up the podium at a Zanu PF rally and praying for peace without criticising the perpetrators.

He concludes with a note of hope: “there is room, too much of it, for religion to positively impact and influence politics.”

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