98 FUNDACIÓN UNIVERSIDAD A DISTANCIA "HERNANDARIAS"

The story of the death of Andreas Shoko is shrouded in mystery. The two wives of Shoko who are alive to this day said that one evening Shoko went to inspect his fields (kunomema munda) at his home in Museva area and discovered that there was a pit dug at the middle of his field and a stone was put on top of the pit to conceal what was inside. Shoko became hesitant to open and peep into the pit and he hurried home. He became suspicious of the way the pit was

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dug. Rather, he suspected witchcraft in this issue. Upon arrival at home, Shoko called all his wives and told them what he saw in the fields. No sooner did he narrate the issue that Shoko fell sick complaining of headache. A prophet was called and Dorius (Shoko’s first son with his first wife) went to the fields together with the prophet. The two performed prayer rituals in the fields as they were holding Shoko’s Great staff called Matsvimbo Matsvimbo. They were praying, moving around the pit. After some time of prayer sessions, the prophet then knelt down at the pit to remove the stone that covered the pit. Upon removing the stone, the prophet felt some powers coming from the pit and attacking him. He fell to the ground, Dorius laid Shoko’s Great staff on him, and he regained his power. The prophet got hold of the Great staff and started to pray pointing it into the pit. As the prophet continued pray pointing the staff into the pit to deal with the powerful spirits inside, the staff was broken. This made the two to be gripped with fear and they left the area in haste to narrate the ordeal to Shoko. When Shoko got the news of what had transpired in the fields, including the breaking of his staff, he was sure that the illness would not spare his life. He gathered all his wives and told them that the powers of darkness (masimba erima) have fought him and prevailed. He told them that anytime, God was going to take him. The breaking of the staff was a symbol that Shoko would soon die. The pit in the field was interpreted to symbolise the grave of Shoko. The fact that the prophet was struck by the evil powers in the pit was a symbol that Shoko would soon die.

All the stories on how Shava left to start his church are myths that the adherents of the ZAFM hold in relation to Shoko’s death. Shoko suffered from the severe headache for a period of three (3) months and then he died at his rural home in Museva area in 1985. Since it was during the colonial era, hospitals and medical treatments were scarce. Moreso, Africans by this time were not used to going to hospitals, so the prophets in the church treated Shoko. He was 95 years old by the time of his death. Shoko’s death gripped and shook the whole of ZAFM church. By the time of his death, Shoko had managed to establish three big centres of his church apart from the headquarters at Museva area. The first one was the headquarters in Chivi district that was led by Kandros Mawisire. The other one was Nyajena and was led by Jonisaya Muzangwa as the high priest. The third one was in Mberengwa that was under Chidzima as the high priest. The high priest at these centres were in charge of many congregations under them with thousands of followers.

115 5.11 Summary

This chapter has managed to trace the history of Andreas Shoko from his birth. It looked at his education, profession in Zimbabwe, and how he migrated to South Africa in search of greener pastures. The chapter also discussed Shoko’s conduct with the ZAFM church in South Africa, his conversion and subsequent mission to Zimbabwe. It looked at how Shoko started preaching in Zimbabwe, the criticism and suffering he experienced from the local people, the Dutch Reformed Church and the government. The chapter also considered some of the disputes and schisms that occurred during Shoko’s time. The events and circumstances that led to his death are spelt out in this chapter. The next chapter is on the schisms and disputes in the ZAFM church after the death of Andreas Shoko.

116 Chapter 6

SCHISMS AND LEADERSHIP DISPUTES AFTER THE DEATH OF ANDREAS SHOKO

6.0 Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to present schisms and leadership disputes in the ZAFM church after the death of Andreas Shoko. The chapter starts by looking at the succession contestations that broke out between Dorius and Zachariah Pedzisai Shoko and then other schisms that occurred thereafter. The history of the church from the time Dorius the successor of Shoko assumed power to his death is provided in this chapter as well. The chapter also looks at the leadership hierarchy in the ZAFM church and the general duties of each office in this church. The methods used in the ZAFM church to select leaders are discussed as well. The chapter ends by looking at the succession disputes that occurred between the sons of Dorius, that is, Bishop Jamson and Ezra, who are the leaders of the current two formations of the ZAFM church. The reason for providing this history is to see the magnitude of succession disputes in the church, and this provides a good foundation for examining the causes of succession disputes.