The prophetic mandate: the church’s role in addressing Zimbabwe’s economic collapse—liberation theology and indigenous knowledge systems

Using the decolonial interpretation of the Bible, liberation theology, and the indigenous knowledge system, this paper examines how the church in Zimbabwe can address the ongoing decline of the economy. Qualitatively, the study brings together the triad of Sen’s capability theory, liberation theology, and Zunde raMambo, a gap absent from scholarship. There is urgency to combine postcolonial critiques with practical solutions to deal with African economic challenges. The results show the need for church-NGO partnership in areas of projects and financial literacy. The study concludes by underlining that space to target the underprivileged women through microfinance and deal with systemic exclusions from leadership roles. The study recommends that the church in Zimbabwe should exceed its roles as a political agent and spiritual comfort giver. Through indigenous ethics and support of communal land rights, the church can restore her prophetic role as well as her moral role, reaffirming social relevance.