The church in Zimbabwe’s peace and reconciliation process under the government of National Unity

Abstract

On 15 September 2008, the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed between Zimbabwe African People’s Union Patriotic Forum(ZANU PF) and the (Movement for Democratic Change) MDC formations to resolve the socio-economic and political crisis that engulfed Zimbabwe from 2000. The agreement paved the way for the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in February 2009. The GNU provided an opportunity for the state to embark on a new national healing and reconciliation process. The process has however been championed by the government subsequently marginalizing of the church and other civil society groups. Christianity is the dominant religion in Zimbabwe accounting for more than eighty percent of the population. That makes the church perhaps the largest and arguably the most socially influential institution in Zimbabwe. As such, the church is expected to play a significant role in Zimbabwe’s reconciliation process but its role has been peripheral. The study theoretically analyses the part played by the church in promoting peace, unity and healing in Zimbabwe under the GNU. It accomplishes this through the lens of Lederach’s conflict transformation framework.