The Bible and Politics in Africa

(Nancy Kaufman) #1
Machingura, The Judas Iscariot episode in the Zimbabwean Religio-Political debate...

betrayal at its highest order with consequences as happened to Judas
Iscariot.


Conclusion


The paper attempted to look at the figure of Judas Iscariot in relation to
Zimbabwean politics. The Judas Iscariot figure has been used for exclu-
sivist purposes against opposition groupings. However, the role that was
played by Judas Iscariot in the salvation economy should help political
parties in Zimbabwe on the important role that different perspectives
can play in the lives of the people. Instead of viewing the Judas figure as
a retrogressive figure as done by some Zimbabwean politicians in gen-
eral in justifying the messianic selection of certain individuals as predes-
tined leaders, Judas can be used as a catalyst in upholding diversity of
opinions and curbing resultant consequences of violence as happened to
Judas. Oppositional politics must in fact be encouraged if the Zimbab-
wean society is to move forward without the present intermittent can-
cerous disease of violence that has characterised the Zimbabwean re-
ligio-political socialization.


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