Pray for Zimbabwe

One of Africa’s largest elephant populations is found in Zimbabwe. Between 80,000 and 100,000 elephants roam the wide savannas. The world’s largest curtain of water parades down Victoria Falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Once known as Rhodesia, the nation was under British rule until officially gaining independence in 1980. In the 2000s, thousands of farms owned by whites were seized by the government. Land was redistributed, in many cases to political allies and their families. This, along with droughts and other economic challenges, contributed to a sharp decline in agricultural production. Zimbabwe fought alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Second Congo War, which cost the nation hundreds of millions of dollars. This military debt and agricultural collapse, combined with President Mugabe’s corruption, contributed to the economic hardships Zimbabwe continues to face today.

Robert Mugabe fell from power in 2017, but the people are still stuck in poverty. The nation suffers from national debt, soaring inflation, and high unemployment rates. Impoverished families face food insecurity and are often unable to send their children to school. Cholera, HIV, and malaria kill thousands of people every year. Corrupt political officials accept bribes, misuse funds, and practice favoritism. The nation’s reliance on agriculture makes it vulnerable to drought. As people search for opportunity abroad, constant migration has left Zimbabwe with a lack of skilled workers, especially teachers.

The nation is looking for a Savior, and thankfully, about 80 percent identify as Christian, mostly concentrated in the Apostolic church. However, people often mix Christianity with traditional pagan ceremonies to seek protection, guidance, and healing, consulting spiritual mediums to communicate with ancestors. The Church in Zimbabwe needs purity in its doctrine and unity among denominations to effectively reach out to the small Muslim population. The Church needs strong, Spirit-filled leaders to point the people of their broken nation to Christ.