‘Quest For Deliverance’: How Religious Pilgrimages Became Key To Zimbabwe’s Tourism Industry
Religious pilgrimages have been one of the main factors driving the recent boom in tourism, which has been pointed as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. In Zimbabwe, since 2010, there has been a rise in religiously motivated travel, which has been linked to the growth of the “healing and deliverance ministries.”
Since the arrival of missionaries to Zimbabwe over the past few decades, such a journey has given birth to shrines and practices, some of which can be seen today. Some of the intangible heritage emanating from various religion include songs, dances and rituals.
Zimbabwe has many religious shrines which had been visited over the decades, but the emergence of prophets — men who are believed to have special gifts that allow them to mediate between God and humanity — in Pentecostal churches has led to the surge of such pilgrimages. At the same time. the government has acknowledged that religious tourism in Zimbabwe plays a crucial role in the growth of the travel sector, contributing immensely to the national economy.
Phineas Chauke. a tourism consultant, said tracing the very entry and development of Christianity in Zimbabwe can also take people to different places across the country and yield an unforgettable experience.
“Large Christian pilgrims do take place in Zimbabwe and such can be leveraged for tourism,” he said. “The essence of religious tourism is not to try to convert visitors to specific religions but to enable them to explore and have an understanding of such religion.”
Experts refer to religious tourism as a pilgrimage of people visiting holy and sacred shrines seeking in search of God’s indulgence, spiritual and physical healing, regeneration of the soul and spirit, acquiring new religious and cultural experiences.
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, religion has played a pivotal role in the growth of the tourism sector and contributing immensely to the national economy.
“Multitudes of tourists travel locally and the diaspora alike for pilgrimages across the country,” the tourism authority said on its website. “As Christians, travel around Zimbabwe, accommodation facilities fill up, and they spend on food, subsequently tourism receipts increase.”
This large flow has included Pentecostal prophets like Emmanuel Makandiwa, Uebert Angel and Walter Magaya. There is also a surge during Easter and church conventions in places such as the Zion Christian Church, Anglican Church and other Protestant denominations.
This growing religious tourism cluster has also generated jobs, strengthening local communities' resilience against poverty, reducing rural flight migration, promoting respect, understanding, peace and harmony between pilgrims, tourists, and local communities.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization identifies religious tourism as the most effective tool to sustain inclusive and sustainable development in many countries. The U.N. body has said three key benefits derived from religious tourism, including raising the consciousness of humankind's shared custom, providing resources for conservation, contributing to local development and building cultural understanding.
An estimated 600 million national and international spiritual and religious journeys occur each year, with around half occurring in Asia and 40% in Europe. Experts claim that regardless of the purpose of any tourism-related activity, it is inevitable for people visiting places to engage in and spend money on tourism-related activities.
The Zion Christian Church in the city of Mbungo — a Bible-based church that combines African traditions with Protestant faith — has become a popular tourism destination. Last year, the Celebration Church was also designated as a religious tourism destination by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality. Such status is valid for a year and subject to a renewal.
Religious freedom, government officials said, is has also spurred such tourism.
“A lot has been happening around this area and we need to seriously and urgently explore ways to promote religious tourism around the country,” Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said, adding that religion can be “one of the most valuable tourism tool” Zimbabwe has to offer visitors.
Calvin Manika is an award-winning international journalist based in Zimbabwe.