Abstract:
This paper is a critical analysis of the witchcraft beliefs in Pentecostalism in post-colonial
Zimbabwe. While Pentecostals claim “a complete break from the past”, there have emerged new
dimensions that show that the belief in witches and witchcraft is deeply entrenched among Pentecostals. It also brings to the fore the underlying aspects of the creativity and innovation that are
informed by African spiritual or metaphysical realities. Research since 1980 (when Zimbabwe got her
independence from the British) indeed confirmed the existence of witchcraft beliefs and practices,
although it was heavily suppressed in the churches. This paper re-visits the belief in witchcraft
activities in Pentecostalism through examining new avenues of expression in both older and newer
Pentecostal churches. The newer Pentecostal churches, in particular, those founded after 2010, have
demonstrated unique innovation in theology. Thus, the belief in witchcraft and witches warrants a
fresh examination in light of these new developments. We, therefore argue that the emergence of
diverse newer Pentecostal churches in the midst of strong older Pentecostal churches has opened
new ways of negotiating the Bible and Shona culture.
