Biblical Leaders: The Answer to Zimbabwe’s Problems?

Africa is a mystery. The incredible wealth of resources on the continent is matched by the equally incredible poverty of the people. A recent article in the New African Magazine says, “The untapped mineral wealth of DRCongo is estimated at $24 trillion, equivalent to the GDP of Europe and the United States combined; making Congo potentially the richest country in the world. It eclipses even the $18 trillion total value of Saudi Arabia Oil reserves...” On the next page it says “The average Congolese worker earns $10.00 a month.” [1] This is startling. One has to ask the question, How is this possible? How can people born into such incredible wealth live in such desperate poverty? The DRC is the richest ground on earth today, endowed with numerous minerals and some of the best agricultural land. What is the problem? Is it inept national leadership? Is it greed? Is it a few enriching themselves at the expense of the nation? Is it plundering from other nations and powers? Is it a curse?

Zimbabwe is another mystery. How does a country with the highest or second highest literacy rate, the second largest deposit of platinum in the world and the recently discovered highest deposit of diamonds in the world have an unemployment rate of over ninety percent? In the midst of such incredible wealth and potential we do the impossible; we have some of the poorest people in the world. What is the problem? Is it inept national leadership? Is it greed? Is it a few enriching themselves at the expense of the nation? Is it plundering from other nations and powers? Is it a curse?

According to statistical records Rwanda was eighty to ninety percent Christian in 1994[2] when the genocide took place. One wonders how a country with ninety percent Christianity could do what the Rwandans did to each other in that year. Thankfully their story is changing today and incredible stories of forgiveness and reconciliation are coming from the country.

According to statistics today seventy to eighty percent of Zimbabweans say they are Christians.[3] My question is what should a nation with these kinds of Christian numbers look like? Outside of Sunday does Christianity have any relevance? Perhaps an understanding of what exactly Christianity is might help. How, if at all does it relate to people’s life, work and business? Should Christianity enter the realm of politics, or does that realm belong to ruthless cutthroats and those who use force, be it physical or financial to get their way?Should the Church be relegated to a preacher addressing a congregation on Sunday morning and making sure that his message steers far from any kind of politics? It seems that African Christianity does not make any difference to the society. On Monday morning it seems to make no difference how many people were in church meetings on Sunday. Sunday is for going to church; Monday is for greed, adultery, plunder, ruthless murder, whatever it takes to survive.

We will start our discussion by considering the biblical definition of a Christian. The last sentence of Acts 11: 26 says, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch”. A Christian is therefore a disciple. A disciple is basically a follower of Christ. When Jesus gave instructions to the apostles after He rose from the dead He told them to make disciples of all nations. “...go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).Notice that the instruction was to make disciples of nations. It involves a whole group of people, not just a few individuals. The instruction goes further to specifically describe the kind of people that Jesus had in mind when he gave the instruction to make disciples. They were to be obedient to his commands, “...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...” (Matthew 28:20). Paul, the apostle cried to the Galatians, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). This is the essence of God’s desire. That Christ is formed in His disciples. That His disciples become like Him.

On paper Rwanda was ninety percent Christian, if this number of people were disciples of Christ as described above, the genocide would never have happened. Imagine a country with mature Christ-like people in all spheres of society. Imagine all the Christians in Zimbabwe truly living the Christian life and exhibiting the maturity of Christ. What kind of nation would this be?

When God created man he had a vision and intention. The Message, a paraphrased modern translation brings out a certain perspective that I would like to examine, “Gen 1:26 God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of earth.’ Gen 1:27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. Gen 1:28 God blessed them: ‘Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.’”

The whole point of making mature disciples is that when they are mature, they would be Christ-like or as Genesis above puts it godlike, and that they would responsibly use the God-given resources of the earth. God holds mature Christians responsible for creation. He expects man to use the resources He gives

It would be sad indeed if Zimbabwe’s diamonds do not improve the life of all Zimbabweans. God gave these diamonds to us all. Why should we be poor when we could be some of the richest people in the world? I am not saying that we should all live Hollywood style lives, but I am saying that the basics should be available for all. All should have a decent house, water and electricity. I suggest that the most vulnerable in society should be made the priority. The elderly who lost years of pension savings due to the country’s financial collapse should be made priority. Jobs need to be created so that our children can be employed. Why should our children be going to find work in other countries? Can we not be responsible enough to leave a functional country for future generations?

It would be sad indeed if these diamonds build obscene mansions and fund opulence for a few while it makes no difference to the lives of many, or if the profits are enjoyed by people who are not Zimbabweans. These diamonds are for our children and our children’s children.

It would be sad indeed if our legacy is that the Christians of this country lived in mansions, drove the latest luxury cars and lived Beverly Hills lifestyles in the midst of more than ninety-percent unemployment. What country, what legacy are we leaving for our children? Could you and I be the answer to Zimbabwe’s problems? You may be asking what Zimbabwe’s problem is. Or what is Africa’s problem?If you are a Christian then maybe you need to take a walk and look in the mirror. If you were the kind of leader God called you to be, perhaps we would not have this problem.

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