MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

Aims
 To spread Christianity.
 To promote legitimate commerce or trade (i.e. to discourage Slave Trade).
 To teach Africans 3Rs (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) so as to enable them to
follow instructions, read and understand the Bible.
 To spread the benefits of European civilisation.
 To promote equality among all human classes
 To pave way for European imperialism.
 To discourage evil practices in Africa (e.g. killing of twins and slave trade).
 To teach local people new farming methods.
 To help treat sick people
 Inoculate cattle.
 To develop an indigenous middle class to maintain and staff churches.
 To introduce new crops.

Early Missionary Groups in Zimbabwe

Missionary Group Mission Station Missionaries

London Missionary Society Inyati Robert Moffat, John Smith

(LMS) Hope Fountain Moffat, Charles Helm, David
Carnege, William Sykes,
Thomas Morgan

Roman Catholic Missionaries Empandeni, Pandemantenka, Bartholomew Kroot, Father

or Jesuits Missionaries Mzila, Chishawasha, Holy Prestige, Father Law, Father
Cross Depelchin, Andre Hartmann

Berlin Missionary Society Matibi, Mposi Knothe, Schellnus,

Evangelist Samuel
Evangelist Madzima

Paris Evangelical Society Chivi Francois Coillard,

Evangelist Sehahabane

Dutch Reformed Church Zimuto, Morgenster Evangelist Michael Buys

Anglican Missionary Society St Augustines Diocese of Knight Bruce

Mashonaland Bernard Mzeki

Methodist Missionary Old Mutare, Mutambara Bishop Hartzel

1
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

The work of missionaries in Zimbabwe

The work of the missionaries in Zimbabwe involved the following activities:

 Preaching the gospel.  Teaching 3 Rs(Reading, Writing

 Inoculating cattle. and Arithmetic)
 Repairing guns.  Farming
 Translating and interpreting.  Treating the sick
 Writing king’s letters.  Advising the king how to handle
European visitors.
 Opening of schools.
 Counselling
 Attacking of Ndebele cultural
practices  Building churches
 Helping in signing of treaties
 Printing of books.
 Trading with the Africans

Missionary work in Matabeleland

The London Missionary Society (LMS) and Roman Catholic Missionaries (Jesuits) were the
main groups that operated in Matabeleland.

London Missionary Society (LMS)

 The L.M.S was the first missionary society to operate in Matabeleland.
 Robert Moffat established good friendship with the Ndebele when they were still in
South Africa.
 Mzilikazi allowed him to establish a mission station at Inyati in 1859.
 The station was run by J.S. Moffat, Thomas Morgan and William Sykes.
 Lobengula allowed the L.M.S. to open another mission station at Hope Fountain in
1870.This station was run by Rev. Charles Helm.

 Missionaries devoted more time to:

a) Preaching, f) Inoculating cattle

b) Teaching g) Translating hymns and
c) Trading with Africans scriptures into Ndebele
d) Literary work (Printing h) Interpreting Ndebele
books in Ndebele language to foreigners
language for children to i) Writing king’s letters
read) and treating the sick, j) Repairing guns
e) Building schools and k) Growing their own crops
churches l) Advising the king.

2
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

 The missionaries were not trusted by Ndebele kings because they preached against
Ndebele practices of raiding, polygamy, traditional ceremonies and social classes.
 Both Mzilikazi and Lobengula refused conversion.
 Missionaries worked for many years in Matabeleland without converts. However,
missionaries helped the Ndebele to be less suspicious of Europeans.
 Converts were gained after the establishment of colonial rule.
 The L.M.S. was later joined by the Roman Catholic Missionaries in Matabeleland.

Roman Catholic Missionaries (Jesuits)

 Jesuits led by Father Bartholomew Kroot opened a mission at Empandeni near

Bulawayo.
 The Jesuits repaired guns, inoculated cattle and treated the sick among other things.
 Father Depelchin led the Jesuits to Zambezi valley and set up a station at
Pandamatenka. He built residence of the Holy cross. However, this station faced
problems of death.
 In 1879 Father Law set a mission at Mzila in the area between Mozambique and
Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, Father Law and his group died of malaria.
 Chishawasha was set up near Harare in 1892. New crafts and skills were taught at
this station.
 Many more missions were opened and many converts were made after the
colonisation of Zimbabwe.

Missionary work in Mashonaland

 Father Gonzalo da Silveira was the first missionary to operate in Mashonaland.
 Most of the pioneering work was done by African Evangelists and catechists in
Mashonaland.
 African evangelists and catechists were preferred because it was feared that
Lobengula would not permit the white missionaries to enter Mashonaland.
 Missionary work in Mashonaland was done by the following groups: Dutch
Reformed Church of South Africa, Paris Evangelical Mission of Lesotho, Berlin
Missionary Society, Jesuits and Anglican.
 Evangelist expeditions reached as far as Matibi, Mposi, Mudavanhu, Chingoma,
Nyamhondo, Chivi, Zimuto, Mugabe, Dzike and Chirumanzu.

Paris Evangelical Mission

 Evangelist Sehahabane convinced Chief Chivi of the need of a permanent mission

station in Chivi.
 Following the successful preliminary work by Sehahabane, a French missionary
Francois Coillard set up a mission at Chivi (1876-1877).
 However, the station was short- lived because Coillard and his party were arrested by
Lobengula. He charged them with using the forbidden route to enter the country.

3
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

 Coillard and his group were expelled and warned never to return to Zimbabwe again.

Berlin Missionary Society

 Evangelists Madzima and Samuel operated in Matibi and Mposi in the districts of
Mwenezi and Mberengwa respectively.
 The work of these evangelists made it possible for the establishment of permanent
stations in these areas.
 In 1886/7, German missionaries Knothe and Schellnus established mission stations at
Matibi (Mwenezi) and Mposi among the Varemba of Mberengwa.
 The stations were abandoned on account of diseases and famine.

Dutch Reformed Church

 Evangelist Michael Buys set up mission stations at Zimuto and Morgenster.

Anglican Missionaries
 Anglican pioneer Knight Bruce found the Diocese of Mashonaland in 1891.
 Other stations included Bernard Mizeki and St Augustines.

United Methodist Church (Wysleans)

 Bishop Hartzel acquired land in Old Umtali for the church.
 He established Ennes Church and a white boys’ school, the Umtali Academy

Roman Catholic Missionaries

 Established Chishawasha mission in 1892.
 Concentrated on preaching and teaching.
 Craft skills like carpentry were also taught.

Summary of Missionary Activities in Zimbabwe

Successes of Missionaries in Zimbabwe before 1900

 Established mission stations.  Introduced new crafts.

 Innoculated cattle.  Built schools and hospitals.
 Printed books in local languages.  Assisted in the colonisation of
 Introduced new crops and new Zimbabwe.
methods of farming.

Failures of Missionaries in Zimbabwe

Pre-colonial missionary efforts failed because;

4
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

 The L.M.S. primarily failed to win converts because both Mzilikazi and Lobengula
refused conversion and opposed conversion.
 The religion of the Ndebele was so strong to such an extent that and it influenced the
political and military system.
 The principles of Christianity threatened the social system of the Ndebele. Principles
of equality threatened the caste system of the Ndebele.
 Converts were mistrusted in the Ndebele society. In some cases converts were
punished or sent to areas far away from missions. For example, Headman Mongobe
and his people were killed for showing interests in Christianity.
 Missionaries were against raiding. Raiding was a strong pillar of the Ndebele
economy.
 Lobengula harassed and arrested missionaries who seemed to score successes in
Mashonaland i.e. Coillard was deported.
 Problems of diseases and poor communication.

Why did the local people resist missionary influence in Zimbabwe between
1850 and 1900?
 They did not want to abandon their traditional religion (A.T.R)
 They feared that their trade would be disturbed.
 They did not want to learn a new language.
 Christianity denounced aspects such as raiding and polygamy.
 Attacked African administration systems.
 Suspected missionaries of having colonial aims.
 Suspected missionaries of causing natural disasters e.g. drought
 Influence from Islam and traditional leaders also played pivotal roles in convincing
people to resist missionary influence.

How did the local people resist missionary influence between 1850 and 1900?

 Moved away from missionary settlements.

 Continued to practise traditional religions.
 Raids continued.
 Refused to attend schools.
 Killed some missionaries e.g. Father Gonzalo da Silveira.
 Refused to give food to missionaries.
 Accused some missionaries of being spies.
 Punished or killed potential converts.
 Accused missionaries of using forbidden routes.
 Refused to work for the missionaries.
 Refused to accept some gifts from missionaries.

Role of Missionaries in the colonisation process

5
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

 Following their failures the missionaries became hostile to the Shona and Ndebele
during the introduction of colonial rule. For example J.S. Moffat turned against both
(Shona and Ndebele) and supported the destruction of the Ndebele by the Maxim gun.
Charles Helm who was Lobengula’s trusted teacher (umfundisi) helped Rhodes to
obtain the Rudd Concession by deceitful means. He did not protest when the whites
massacred the Africans with Maxim guns.
 Father Prestige also supported the crushing of the Ndebele.
 J.S.Moffat signed the Moffat Treaty on behalf of Rhodes in February 1888.
 In October 1888 Rev. Charles Helm influenced Lobengula into signing the Rudd
Concession. He also recommended the destruction of the Ndebele state.
 Missionaries hosted European visitors (concession seekers& colonialists).
 Missionary road became gateway into the interior of Southern Africa. The flag
followed the cross.
 Fed colonialists and concession seekers.
 Worked as colonialist agents.
 Negotiated concessions on behalf of colonialists.
 Misinterpreted concession terms to African chiefs or kings.
 Stood as witnesses to concession discussions.
 Cured ill colonialists.
 Acted as Colonialist messengers to African chiefs and kings.
 Acted as secretaries to concession discussions

Problems faced by missionaries in Southern Africa

 Passive resistance from Africans for example, Lobengula allowed missionaries to

operate in his country but he secretly advised his people not to attend church services.
 Missionaries were few in numbers. This made it difficult to carry out their duties
effectively and to cover wide areas.
 Communication problems due to language differences.
 Tropical diseases such as malaria.
 Hostility of local people.
 Literacy problems. Africans were illiterate.
 Killing of converts or exiling them e.g. in the Ndebele kingdom.
 Communication with mother countries.
 Warfare and raiding created fear among the missionaries.
 Attacks from wild animals.
 Lack of roads worsened transport problems.
 Shortage of food they were accustomed to.
 Shortage of medicine.
 Opposition from African rulers.
 Distrusted since they preached against polygamy, raiding, traditional ceremonies and
caste system.

6
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

 Pressure from political leaders to be involved in colonisation.

 Resistance from traditional religious leaders.
 Accommodation problems.

Methods to solve problems

 Missionaries brought medicine.
 Used sign languages.
 Used interpreters.
 Used African evangelists and catechists.
 Set up schools.
 Assisted in the colonisation process.
 Cleared roads.
 Established friendship with local chiefs.
 Built clinics for curing tropical diseases.
 Grew crops for food.
 Translated books into vernacular languages.
 Cheated some chiefs.

Missionary successes and Failures in solving problems affecting them

Successes Failures

 Roads were cleared.  Few people were converted into

 Assisted in the colonisation
process.
 Stations and clinics were built
 Grew their own crops.
 Rapid success after establishment
of colonisation.
 Appointed African evangelists.
 Books were translated into local
languages.
Christianity.
 Not many roads cleared.
 Shortage of drugs.
 Some chased out of the country
e.g. Coillard.
 Some missions were abandoned
e.g. Pandamatenka.
 Some missionaries were killed e.g.
Bernard Mizeki.
 Africans were still attached to
their traditional religion and
culture.
 Telephones were still rare

Effects of Missionary activities in Southern Africa

7
 MISSIONARY WORK IN ZIMBABWE

Positive effects
 Introduced better farming methods.
 Taught craft skills to Africans.
 Introduced formal education.
 Improved health due to better medication.
 Treated animals.
 Helped to end evil practices like Slave Trade and killing of twins.
 Introduced new forms of building.

 Negative effects
 Created divisions among Africans.
 Acted as torch bearers of colonialism.
 Destroyed or weakened African religion.
 Denigrated or disrespected African traditions and customs without examining their
merits and demerits
 Some missionaries collaborated with imperialists e.g. J.S. Moffat and C.Helm.
 Taught Africans the rudiments of being excellent servile servants of the white settlers.
 Exploited African resources like land.
 Father Prestige supported the crashing of the Ndebele by the settlers.
 Weakened people’s resistance against colonial rule. More emphasis was placed on life
hereafter. The present conditions of Africans (subjugation, poverty, racism, and loss
of land) were erroneously regarded as normal.