No money, no phones, no school, no medicine — and no questions. This is what life was like in Canaan, the shrine of an African Apostolic faith church on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, where police last month rescued hundreds of people — including more than 250 children — forced to believe they were prepared to depart for heaven.
Read MoreIslamic extremists waging an insurgency in Mozambique have increasingly targeted Christians and churches in the first three months of this year. As a result, priests and their followers — a total of 100,000 people — have been forced to flee following increased attacks that have left scores of dead and some church buildings destroyed.
Read MoreAs Zimbabwe and several other African countries fight a protracted cholera outbreak, Apostolic Christian sects opposed to Western medicine are being blamed for complicating the fight. Zimbabwe is one of the several countries in Southern Africa that are suffering from bouts of cholera outbreaks. Other places include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.
Read More“Towards Jihad? Muslims and Politics in Postcolonial Mozambique” says that although Muslims in Mozambique have become more active in politics in the post-independence period, they have not moved towards jihad, but that only a small group has done so.
Read MoreAfter joining the global Christian community in celebrating the election of Lazarus Chakwera as President of Malawi, the refugee community regrets it as the Christian leader has embarked on a brutal campaign against them, blaming them for the socio-economic problems that the impoverished African nation faces.
Read MoreAs most people take a break to gather and celebrate Christmas with family and friends, for tens of thousands of Africans that have fled threats, wars, turmoil and persecution at home, this is a moment that their homesickness is heightened. Many of them find solace in the church and connecting with relatives on social media.
Read MoreThe October elections in Mozambique — now confirmed to have been rigged in favor of President Filipe Nyusi’s ruling FRELIMO party — have left the head of the Anglican church in the southern African nation fighting for survival, while a Muslim cleric has already been sacked for endorsing the dubious poll results.
Read MoreAn alternative funeral for a top United Methodist Church pastor who committed suicide last month following a sex scandal has highlighted a clash between religion and culture in Zimbabwe.
Read MoreOver the years, the Catholic church in South Africa has devoted itself to helping the poorest of the poor in this most unequal society to take on mighty entities in their quest to regain long lost dignity. The church began shepherding a class action against the country’s three major coal mining firms seeking compensation for sick former workers and their families who died as a result of lung disease and other associated illnesses.
Read MoreAfter many decades of exclusion by the church, the deaf in Zimbabwe and other African countries are finally being remembered and embraced.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In a troubled country where violence and rigging win elections and the resultant political leadership promotes lawlessness, corruption and general misrule, a compromised church leadership stands accused of siding with the oppressors, a charge that these “men of God” deny.
Read MoreZimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change, has created a political firestorm after announcing plans to base its rule on Christian values in the event it wins power in this month’s elections.
Read More“I have run the race to strengthen others … that even in death from HIV, there is still God in heaven,” Rev. Kapachawo. 49, told ReligionUnplugged.com in an interview as he reflected on his life. “Because He is so faithful, here I am today, still believing and spreading the gospel of life and hope.”
Read MoreIn the aftermath of violent protests that rocked South Africa last week, church leaders are pointing those that are searching for answers to the demons of inequality and injustice that have continued to lurk in the shadows of this “Rainbow Nation”.
Read More(OPINION) The continued death of pastors, imams, rabbis and other spiritual leaders across all religions from the Coronavirus has a devastating effect on the faith of those who took up to them.
South Africa’s leading religious and cultural groups are pushing back hard against a proposed marriage law — originally aimed at combating discrimination against religious minorities — that would also allow South African women to have more than one husband at one time. Since 91% of South Africa’s 16,000 marriage officers are faith leaders, the voice of religious leaders carries a lot of weight on the issue.
Read MoreAs a minority religion of about one percent Zimbabwe’s population, what most citizens know about Islam in the southern African country is largely based on stereotypes shaped by the media. The Muslim community aims to change that.
Read More(OPINION) “White privilege” is about the distribution of material possessions and honor in this world. It is a reality that White people are better off in terms of both material riches and honor at the present moment. But this is not the type of privilege that should concern Christians, who are passers-by in this world.
Read More(OPINION) This year’s Holy Week started badly in that it coincided with the kick-off of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former policeman accused of causing the death of George Floyd on May 25 last year in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is an event that opens wounds in many hearts.
Read MoreThe government of Mozambique claims that religious fundamentalism rather than its own failures is the primary cause of a fast-escalating conflict that has killed over 2,500 people and displaced another 700,000. In March, the U.S. began training Mozambique defense forces in counter terrorism. But some journalists, researchers and clergy on the ground say that this narrative only serves the authoritarian government, accused of torturing and killing critics.
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