“Garden boys and new farm boys are better paid than us.” : The case of the Zimbabwean Wesleyan Methodist indigenous clergy and the development of resistance to domination, 1950–1977

Abstract

The second half of the 20th century was characterised by hardship for African people. This state of affairs also pervaded the Christian churches, and in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe some white missionaries promulgated harsh legislation to govern, among other things, stay on mission land. The stipends of the indigenous clergy were pegged at relatively low levels. While there was a vehicle scheme for the white missionaries, members of the indigenous clergy were expected to get around on foot or, where the situation was more favourable, to travel by bicycle. The indigenous clergy were made to suffer many indignities. At the heart of this practice was the white missionaries’ desire to retain power. Once the Africans realised this, resistance was inevitable. The resistance came in various ways. Some engaged in open resistance while others engaged in hidden resistance. The unintended consequence of the hardship suffered by Africans was the development of a radical spirit among the indigenous clergy. This article argues that the poor working conditions of the indigenous clergy gave birth to a high level of political consciousness, which expressed itself in many forms of resistance.