ABSTRACT
It is common knowledge that religion plays a very important role in the political, social and economic life of practically all the peoples of the world. This paper examines the role that Christianity has played in politics in Southern Africa from the 1960s to the present day. Since it is not possible to cover all the countries in Southern Africa because of the limited space at my disposal, this paper concentrates on selected countries – namely, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa – as case studies. The paper argues that Christianity has played a very significant role in the politics of the Southern African region. Sometimes it has collaborated with the political powers of the region providing a theological legitimacy to colonial rule or independent governments. At other times it has challenged the politics of the day in defense of the rights of the minority groups or civil society. For purposes of analysis this paper has adopted a historical conceptual framework in which case it is more historical than theological.
