Jesus Does Not Happen That Way. Cdes Engel ,Makandiwa, Magaya and Others.

I am a Roman Catholic by way of Christian belief and more significantly by way of upbringing.

I have been taught to not fight wars that are not mine. Mainly because I am not clergy. Though I am left with one sacrament. That of beimg blessed upon death (where I fall ill in time for a priest to bless me)

But occassionally I pop up as a layman in the Christian faith. Something that I will never wish away for personal reasons. 

Except to mainly argue about interpretations of the Bible. Not as sent by some Biblical prophet. But as academically or philosphically given.

From creche to University.

And no, I have not found Jesus in a spectacular format. 

I was taught by my mother to accept his (Jesus) reality. In faith. An issue I have never disputed. Based on the very fact that I cannot argue with my mother! Let alone my sisters!

The key issue however has always been what I refer to as 'societal objectivity'. One in which faith avoids itself as a basis for the pursuit of political power (electoral or otherwise) as it's primary motivation. 

I use the term 'avoid' mainly because we tend to mix things up via our contemporary Christian and other prophets as cited in this brief write up. 

I will argue this in three parts. 

The first is that religion is integral to our national liberatory politics. Dating back to our national liberation struggle and the role of 'masvikiro' 'midzimu' ne 'madzimambo'! 

It is in our national historical narrative. Even as we send, in the contemporary, our children to schools where they can hardly speak local languages. All because we have inferiority complexes. A debate for another late night article. 

The catch though is that religion is not self definitive. Even as we wish it to be.  

You are who you are! Beyond your assumed faith and beyond your parents,uncles or aunts! Let alone your brothers, sisters or cousins. Even if you feel judged by 'others'. Religion remains a choice and an option.

The second point relates to 'rising above the norm'. To see beyond the horizon and what appears immediate. What people say and even do is not what matters most. It is always about a measured approach to what can be the future.

What you want to to see is what you will most likely achieve. Even if in part so long you avoid feeling judged!

Thirdly, and this is about economic class and aspirations. As a cde you have to be more cautious about your material desires and why you have them in the first place. For this one I will not expand further. If you have come this far in this conversation, hauna pressure!

Let me come to the contemporary 'prophets' ana Engel, Makandiwa, Magaya and others. It is relatuvuly clear that in your celrgical functions you have chosen to mix religion with politics. Or faith with what would be considered 'hedonism'. 

The point however is to be contextual to our national Zimbabwean 'historicity'. Faith remains multiple in its pre-colonial, colonial, anti-colonial and post colonial genesis. 

What the cdes are doing is ahistorical to their own proclaimed faith(s). Asi vari vafudzi vehwayana.The objectivity of history, religion  and struggle is beyond alĺ night prayers. Zvakasiyana nema Pungwe. 

*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity