A Descriptive Chronicle of Transition from Mission to Indigenous Leadership in Two Church of Christ Institutions (Zimbabwe 1976- 1986)

Abstract

<p>This thesis chronicles the leadership transition at two institutions affiliated with the iv Church of Christ, a branch of the Stone-Campbell Movement, in Rhodesia. The two institutions- Nhowe Mission and Umtali School of Preaching-were founded by missionaries from the USA who were also managers and technocrats, with the indigenous black Zimbabweans on the periphery of strategic decision-making powers. The status quo abruptly changed between 1976 and 1977 when the volatile political landscape became hostile for the missionaries who nearly closed or sold these mission centres. The unprepared Africans pleaded for an opportunity to lead these schools. The leadership transition was successful because the indigenous men and women had a deep sense of ownership. Moreover, the political landscape, after Zimbabwe's independence, made it conducive for the indigene to lead such institutions. Furthermore, during the war of liberation, they morally and physically supported the guerrillas thereby saving the mission's fixed assets from vandalism and destruction during the war while paving its future in a free Zimbabwe.</p>