Powered by Faith

Pentecostal Businesswomen in Harare

Tapiwa Praise Mapuranga

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781532662416
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

This book investigates the impact of Pentecostalism on the participation of women in business in Harare, Zimbabwe. Chapters in this volume trace the history of women's participation in business and highlight how Pentecostalism serves as a major motivating factor. The central argument is that there is a way in which selected women's businesses are "powered by the Spirit." Contributors to the volume utilize case studies of selected Pentecostal churches and ministries to highlight how the religious ideologies of these churches galvanize them to engage in business. They also draw patterns of similarity and difference across the different Pentecostal churches. The volume demonstrates how Pentecostalism both facilitates and militates against women's participation in business concerning a specific setting in Zimbabwe.

Chapter 1

Introduction

Ezra Chitando

Introduction

One key development on Zimbabwe’s complex religious scene has gone relatively unnoticed: the number of women in business coming from a Pentecostal background. Although scholars have sought to keep up to date with developments in religion in Zimbabwe, Pentecostal women’s participation in business has tended to elude their attention. Chapters in this volume seek to address this gap in the available scholarly literature by highlighting the extent to which the Pentecostal gospel of prosperity has inspired, energised and granted legitimacy to women’s participation in economic activities in Harare. However, as shall be outlined below, the chapters draw attention to some significant challenges that Pentecostal women in business in Harare face.

This volume represents a very significant development in the study of religion, gender and economics in Zimbabwe. The authors engaged in fieldwork and provide valuable insights into how the Pentecostal movement has enabled many women in Harare to negotiate their entry into spaces that were formerly framed in exclusive masculine terms. Whereas patriarchal ideologies from indigenous cultures and Christianity have been appealed to in order to justify male dominance, the message from the emerging Pentecostal movement has empowered many women to participate in business. Below I highlight some of the key themes that have emerged from the study on Pentecostalism and women in business in Harare.

The Prosperity Gospel as an Enabling Ideology

Studies on African Pentecostalism have identified the prosperity gospel as one major characteristic feature. Scholars have debated the origins of this theology or ideology, with Paul Gifford (1990) initially suggesting that this was a “foreign element.” However, David Maxwell (2000) maintained that the creativity of African Pentecostals had to be recognised. On his part, Lovemore Togarasei (2011) has argued that the prosperity gospel in Pentecostalism had positive dimensions, such as motivating individuals to pursue business and investment opportunities. The chapters in this volume highlight this trait, drawing attention to how the different Pentecostal preachers such as Ezekiel Guti of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA), Emmanuel Makandiwa of the United Family International Church (UFIC), Walter Magaya of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministry and others have sought to mobilise Zimbabweans to have a positive approach towards wealth.

Chapters that focus on specific Pentecostal churches illustrate the extent to which the prosperity gospel has provided the ideological framework for women to engage in business activities in Harare. Whereas missionary theology and the subsequent mainline church approach has been to emphasise the afterlife, the prosperity gospel concentrates on the “here and now.” Believers must not wait to walk regally on the streets of heaven that are paved with gold: they must get their gold now! Different authors have shown how the message of prosperity energises young women, formerly excluded from participating in the mainstream economy, to have the courage to venture into business.

The History of Black Women’s Marginalisation in Mainstream Economic Activities

Whilst the prosperity gospel has empowered women to engage in business in contemporary Harare, history shows that black women were largely prevented from participating in the mainstream economy. To say this is not to suggest that black women have been idle, but to draw attention to the effect of colonialism and missionary ideologies of domesticity. When indigenous patriarchal approaches are added to the mix, the net effect is to stifle women’s creativity. The portrayal of women as homemakers had the negative effect of limiting their direct participation in business.

Pentecostalism has sought to give impetus to black women’s participation in business by maintaining that it is God’s will for every believer to prosper. All the negative forces, including ancestral curses, the machination of witches and the scheming of enemies, have no chance against the grace of God poured out to every believer and concretised in material success. Women have latched on to this ideology and have sought to bring themselves from the periphery to the centre. Although they have not yet managed to occupy the most strategic industries (they are mainly concentrated in the informal sector), they have managed to participate in business in Harare (and other centres).

Some chapters in this volume have drawn attention to the extent to which black women have sought to defy the odds by challenging patriarchal domination and engaging in business and investment. Authors have shown how various factors combined to keep women out of participating in business. They have highlighted the struggles that women continue to face as they seek to rewrite history and take their place in the postcolonial economy. As noted above, the Pentecostal gospel of prosperity has contributed towards this shift.

Ambivalence in Pentecostalism’s Approach to Gender and Women’s Economic Participation

One of the most intriguing dimensions of contemporary studies on Pentecostalism is the ambivalence of the Pentecostal approach to gender. While Pentecostalism seeks to grant space to women, it also limits the scope of women’s participation through the notion of male headship. Van Klinken (2013) and Gabaitse (2015) have shown how Pentecostalism enables women to participate actively in various activities. However, they also recognise that there is an underlying assumption that there is a given divine gender order that should not be tampered with. This theology has tended to limit women’s full participation in different areas of life.

The chapters in this volume struggle with the ambivalence of the Pentecostal approach to gender in relation to women’s economic participation in Harare. Although they acknowledge the positive role played by Pentecostalism in allowing women to take part in business, they also draw attention to how ideas relating to women’s supposed subordinate and supporting position have held back many women. They highlight how contentious interpretations of the Bible sometimes result in women being forced to defer to men. In addition, Pentecostal emphasis on the man as the breadwinner and the woman as a “helper/supporter” promotes male dominance in business.

Ongoing Struggle for Women’s Economic Empowerment

Alongside the challenges posed by Pentecostal ideologies, some chapters in this volume draw attention to the struggle for the full participation of women in business. These include the need for women to access loans, oppressive cultural ideologies and the absence of an enabling environment. The authors demonstrate that women continue to face challenges in their quest to become more fully engaged in business in Harare. Some authors proceed to provide suggestions as to how to promote the greater involvement of women in business.

While the postcolonial State has sought to improve the status of women through legislation and setting up supportive institutions, women do not yet enjoy equality with their male counterparts. Chapters in this volume have shown how cultural and religious ideologies and oppressive economic policies have combined to force women to remain on the margins. Although the Pentecostal gospel of prosperity has equipped some young women in Harare to engage in successful businesses, many women remain outside, looking in. More work needs to be done by various stakeholders to ensure that women in Zimbabwe become fully involved in social and economic transformation.

Methodology used in this study

The study employs multiple approaches. First and foremost, records of Pentecostal women’s participation from specific Pentecostal women’s organisations and denominations such as Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Forward in Faith (ZAOGA FIF), Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) Christ Embassy Church, United Family International Church (UFIC), amongst others.

Library research is also a major part of data collection. This includes examining published and unpublished documents on women’s economic participation in Zimbabwe, as well as the calls for Pentecostal women’s participation in business by religious leaders.

Furthermore, Pentecostal and interdenominational conventions where women were encouraged to participate in economic activities were attended (such events are always under way in Harare). Patterns and frequencies were established in selected suburbs and denominations. Crucial respondents included Pentecostal women in business, Pentecostal leaders, economic planners and NGO workers in the field of development work.

Critically, this research involved fieldwork. For five months, the researchers attended Pentecostal women’s conventions and interviewed research participants. The research site, Harare, was selected and isolated carefully. Harare constitutes the hub of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe, with its cosmopolitan outlook and hosting the Head Offices of numerous Pentecostal ministries that are encouraging women’s economic participation. Interviews were also held with various categories of research participants who include scholars of religion, media practitioners, politicians and political scientists, civic society and peace activists, religious leaders and members of the public.

In the light of the large numbers involved, Random Stratified Sampling was employed. Respondents were disaggregated to account for race, ethnicity, gender, age, political and religious affiliation, rural/urban residents, as well as socio-economic variables.

Processing and analysis of data included translating some material from Shona and Ndebele and synthesizing data according to themes. Simple statistics, description, comparison, contrast and interpretation were used in the process of interpreting the data.Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews availed qualitative data that helped to clarify the phenomenon under investigation.

There was a direct correspondence between the research objectives and the methodology envisaged. In order to establish Pentecostal women’s economic participation in Harare, there was need to enter into the field and gather data on the factors that influence the phenomenon.

Interpretive Framework and Significance

The study is located within the religion and gender paradigm. In particular, it sought to establish whether and how the ideology of Pentecostalism either propels or frustrates women’s economic participation. The study avails relevant and critical information relating to the impact of gender ideologies on Pentecostal women’s economic participation in Harare. The study has practical significance and its findings have policy implications.

Chapters in this Volume

Seeking to understand the participation of Pentecostal women in business in Harare, the chapters in this volume highlight the underlying role of religious ideologies in engaging in business. However, since religion does not occur in a social vacuum, some of the chapters provide an overview of the historical, political and economic contexts that have given rise to women’s participation in business in Harare. In Chapter Two, Fortune Sibanda undertakes a historical overview of African and Zimbabwean Pentecostalism. This enables the reader to appreciate that the current wave of women in Pentecostalism must be placed within the larger narrative of waves of Pe...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Background and History of Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe
• Chapter 3: Zimbabwean Women in Business
• Chapter 4: Postcolonial Zimbabwean Economy
• Chapter 5: UFIC’s ‘Victorious Ladies’
• Chapter 6: Faith-Driven Business Ladies
• Chapter 7: Mbiri Kuna Jesu: Pentecostal Women’s Economic Participation In Harare
• Chapter 8: Pentecostalism with Profits
• Chapter 9: Conclusion: Patterns in Pentecostal Women in Business
• Bibliography