The Role of Zimbabwean Church Leaders in the Growth of the Church (1920s to Present):

A Critical Response

Abstract

This study explores the critical contributions of Zimbabwean spiritual leaders to the growth of Christianity from the 1920s to the present. Drawing on African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) and Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement theory, it examines how local leaders contextualised the gospel within Zimbabwe’s cultural and socio-political landscape. Using a qualitative, historical-descriptive methodology, the research engages oral histories and archival sources, supplemented by historical accounts, to construct a multi-generational narrative of ecclesial development. A central reference point is Samuel T. Manyika’s online narrative, “History of Pentecostalism Growth in Zimbabwe,” which provides valuable first-hand accounts of underrepresented indigenous church pioneers. While Manyika’s work offers important insights, it remains largely testimonial and lacks the analytical depth for rigorous historiographical critique. This study builds on his foundation to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive account of Zimbabwean Christian leadership. The findings suggest that local leaders—through spiritual authority, contextual adaptability and sacrificial service—were instrumental in spreading Christianity across rural and marginalised communities, challenging missionary-centric narratives and calling for a more accurate and honouring reconstruction of the nation’s church history.