Conceptualizing Social Movements as Practical Theology: Case of Pastor Evan Mawarire's #ThisFlag Movement

Abstract

ABSTRACT In 2016, Evan Mawarire, a Baptist pastor, led the #ThisFlag movement using social media in Zimbabwe. The pastor was responding to the deteriorating status quo and high levels of corruption in the government. While the #ThisFlag movement has been analyzed within the paradigms of social media, media liberalization in the country, and a broad range of activist topics, this study utilizes a postcolonial theological perspective in its analysis. In examining the church-state relations in Zimbabwe, most studies concentrate on the mainline, traditional churches and Christian institutions; such an analysis relegates grassroots ministerial entities and persons filling the gap left by the suppression and co-option of some of these mainline and traditional church voices and bodies. This study adopts a postcolonial analysis in conceptualizing the #ThisFlag movement as practical theology and its reimagination of the church's role in social action. Key points in this consideration include Mawarire's vocation as a pastor. The analysis provides a lens to understand how theologians engage in justice and advocacy work. While reference is made to speeches and responses by the late former President Robert Mugabe on Evan Mawarire, key data is attained from the pastor's videos. The study uses Critical Discourse Analysis in analyzing this data.