Minority Religions in Zimbabwe Overshadowed By Christianity

Zimbabwe is largely a Christian majority nation, but that does not mean it has been declared a Christian nation or only practices Christianity, they are many other religions practiced in the country although they are not vastly represented.

Zimbabwean constitution allows freedom of religion which is  religious liberty a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs, “the right not to profess any religion or belief” or “not to practise a religion”.

by Pauline Mapuvire

According to the 2017 Inter Censal Demography Survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency 69.2 percent of Zimbabweans belong to Protestant Christianity, 8.0 percent are Roman Catholic, in total 84.1 percent follow one of the denominations of Christianity.^[

According toChristian denominations in Zimbabwe with significant numbers of faithful include the Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Lutheranism and Methodism; however, over the years a variety of indigenous Christian denominations have emerged.^[4] Charismatic Evangelical denominations, primarily Pentecostal churches and apostolic churches were the fastest growing religious classifications in the years 2000 to 2009.^[4]

Traditional religions are followed by about four percent, and unspecified and none eight percent. The other major religions of the world such as Islam (0.9%), Buddhism (<0.1%), Hinduism (<0.1%) and Judaism (<0.1%) each have a niche presence. While the country is majority Christian, most people practice, to varying degrees, elements of the indigenous religions as well.^[4] Religious leaders also reported an increase in adherence to traditional religion and shamanic healers