BY SYDNEY NJABULO SITHOLE…Diplo in Edu.

(University of Zimbabwe)

Missionary Activities in Zimbabwe (1850-1900)

Master Soul Studios

2020

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 Missionary activities in Zimbabwe 1850-1900
Introduction
A Missionary is a person who travels attempting to spread a religion or a creed (a religious
message). The first missionary to come to Zimbabwe was Father Goncalo da Silveria on January
1551 who was a Jesuit Priest and a Portuguese missionary. In 1551 he baptized and converted
Mutapa Negomo Mapunzaguti and 50 Mutapa people. On this topic we only focus on the
missionary activities who operated in Zimbabwe in the period of 1850-1900

Missionaries who came to Zimbabwe in 1850-1900

1. Robert Moffat
2. John Smith Moffat
3. Charles Helms
4. Francis Coillard
5. William Sykes
6. Thomas M Thomas
7. Father Robert Law
8. Knight Bruce
9. Father Law
10. Father Kroot
11. Andre Hartman
12. Peter Prestige
13. David Livingstone
14. Micheal Buys
15. Willian Allan Elliot

African Evangelists who operated in Zimbabwe in the 19th century

1. Bernard Mizeki
2. Shumba Chekai
3. Johannes
4. Petrus Morudu
5. Joshua Morudu
6. David Molea
7. Petrus Khobe
8. Samueal Madzima
9. Isaiah Khumalo

Missionaries who worked for the London Missionary Society (Matebeland)

1. Robert Moffat
2. John Smith Moffat
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 3. Charles Helm
4. William Sykes
5. David Carnegie
6. Thoman Morgan Thomas

Missionaries who worked in Mashonaland between 1850-1900

1. Simon Buys
2. Asser Schahabane
3. David Molea
4. Gabriel Buys
5. Stephanus Hofmeyr
6. Beuser Wedepohl
7. Isaiah Khumalo
8. Petrus Morudu
9. A.A Louw
10. Francois Coillard
11. Knothe
12. Schellenus

Missionary churches / organization that come to Zimbabwe 1850-1900

1. London Missionary Society
2. Roman Catholic Church
3. The Dutch Reformed Church (D.R.C)
4. Anglican Church
5. The American Board of Church of Christ
6. The Jesuits
7. Paris Evangelical Mission
8. Berlin Missionary Society
9. The Methodists

Missionary stations established in Zimbabwe

1. Inyathi Mission
2. Hope Fountation Mission
3. Empandeni Mission
4. Morgenster Mission
5. Gokomore Mission
6. Mt Selinda Mission
7. Mnele Mission
8. St Lukes Mission
9. St Augustine Mission

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 10. Matambara Mission

Aims of the missionaries

1. To spread Christianity
2. To stop slave trade
3. To promote legitimate trade
4. To teach new farming methods
5. To teach people how to read and write
6. To civilize the local people
7. To promote European rule.
8. To establish mission stations

Skills taught by missionaries

1. Carpentry
2. Farming
3. Teaching
4. Nursing
5. Preaching
6. Reading
7. Writing

Missionary activities in Zimbabwe

Missionary activities in Mashonaland 1850-1900
1. The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)
African Evangelists were trained. Francois Coillard of the Paris Evangelical Mission (P.E.M) with
evangelist Sehahabane formed / set up a permanent station at Chivi but was short lived.
2. Berlin Missionary Society (B.M.S)
Matibe and Mposi stations were set up by evangelists and Samuel who did the ground work.
1887-7, German missionaries were Knothe and Schellnus later came and enjoyed some
successes, preaching, teaching skills such as reading and writing, agriculture and carpentry. The
Missionaries built hospitals, translating the bible into local languages, inoculating cattle, repairing
guns, crops production, trading, letter writing, publishing books, paved way for colonization and
they were discouraging traditional practices
3. Roman Catholic Church
In 1879, Father Law tried to establish a mission station in Chief Mzila’s land in the border region
between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, these were asked to convert other Africans. Micheal Buys
opened a station at Zimuto near Masvingo, under Chief Mugabe and it was called Morgenster

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Mission. Another station was opened at Chief Chivi’s capital and a resident missionary was
appointed. They managed to teach, preach and did Literature.
4. Anglican Church
Knight Bruce led an expkloratory expedition to the Zambezi in 1888. He visited many Shona
chiefs. In 1891 established the Diocese of Mashonaland and opened a station at St Augustine.
5. Church of Christ
Established a mission station at Chikore and Mt Selinda (Chirinda) in the eastern province of
Manicaland (Chipinge)

Missionary activities in Matebeland (1850-1900)

Mzilikazi allowed John smith Moffat to establish a mission at Inyathi near Bulawayo in 1859.
Lobhengula allowed the London Missionary Society to open Hope Fountain mission in 1870.
Inyathi and Hope Foundation missionaries taught, preached and wrote isiNdebele books. They
cultivated crops on the land given by Lobhengula respectively. Missionaries helped Mzilikazi and
Lobhengula to repair guns, inoculate cattle, treat the sick and write King’s diplomatic letters. They
opened Empandeni mission near Bulawayo. Missionaries acted as interpreters and advisers. They
paved way to the colonization e.g. Charles Helm

Challenges faced by Missionaries in Zimbabwe

1. Diseases
2. Poor transport and communication
3. Opposition of African leaders
4. Opposition of Muslims / Swahili merchants
5. Language barriers
6. Traditional religion
7. Food supplies were scarce.
8. Attacks by animals
9. Locals resisted Christianity
10. Pressure from political leaders to be involved in colonization
11. Caught up in the competition among the European countries
12. Shortage of medicines
13. Human resources shortage (manpower)
14. Accommodation problems / shelter.

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