Cries in the Wilderness: The Unheard Stories of Human Rights Violation within Johanne Marange Apostolic Church (JMAC) in Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The research investigation aimed to explore the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church’s (JMAC) stance on the empowerment, autonomy, and protection of women and girls’ rights in Zimbabwe, with a focus on examining the church’s policies, practices, and cultural norms and their implications for gender equality and social justice. The imperative to conduct this study arose from the distressing realization that the rights of women and girls are frequently circumvented or relinquished at the altar of religious philosophy. Sadly, these rights violations are largely going unreported and unchallenged. Utilizing a rigorous qualitative research methodology grounded in the gendered human rights-based theoretical paradigm, this investigative study amassed rich empirical data through in-depth interviews and immersive participant observation, yielding nuanced insights into the complex dynamics under examination. These interviews were undertaken with a cohort of twenty participants, consisting of fifteen female and five male congregants, all of whom were affiliated with the church under examination. A snowball recruitment strategy was utilized, harnessing the power of referrals to expand the participant pool. Findings revealed that the JMAC’s doctrine broadcasts a culture conducive to the exploitation and mistreatment of women and girls, cloaked under the pretense of religious sanctity and sectarian immunity. The study concluded that forced and underage marriages to older men are facilitated by both adult men and women within religious cults, which often perpetuate and conceal such abuse. The study therefore advocates for swift and decisive action from government agencies and non-profit actors to fortify child protection initiatives within the religious institutions. This strengthened safeguarding framework aims to shield girls and women from exploitation and vulnerability within the church communities, ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice and held accountable for their heinous actions.