Women, Religion and Leadership in Zimbabwe, Volume 1: An Ecofeminist Perspective (Palgrave Studies in African Leadership)

Praise for Women, Religion and Leadership in Zimbabwe, Volume 1
Contents
Notes on Contributors
1 Introduction: Women, Religion and Leadership in Zimbabwe
	Introduction
	The Context
	Promises and Challenges: Religion and Women’s Leadership
	Women’s Leadership in Religion Leading to Women’s Leadership in the Community? Some Proposals
	Chapters in This Volume
	Part I: Zimbabwean Women’s Leadership in Ecological Conservation
	Part II: Religio-Cultural Factors Impacting Women’s Leadership Roles in Zimbabwe
	Conclusion
	References
Part I Zimbabwean Women’s Leadership in Ecological Stewardship
2 Theorising African Women’s Leadership: An Overview
	Introduction
	Theories of Leadership: A Summary
	African Women’s Leadership
	Impediments to African Women’s Leadership
	Theories of African Women’s Leadership: An Overview
	Daring to Lead: An Overview of the Areas of African Women’s Leadership
	Conclusion
	References
3 The Leadership of Ndau Women in Healing the Earth Utilising Religio-Cultural Resources: An African Ecofeminist Perspective
	Introduction
	Conceptual Framework: African Ecofeminism
	Definition of Key Terms
	Oikos Theology
	Environment
	Women
	Statement of the Problem
	Methodology
	Results and Discussion
		The Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents in the Ndau Community
	African Indigenous Religion as the Source of Environmental Justice
	Zviera (Taboos)
	Women as Leaders and Protectors of the Environment
	Women’s Agricultural Activities
	Prospects and Challenges of African Indigenous women’s Leadership and Agency on Environmental Justice
	Towards Ndau Oikos Theology: Ndau women’s Stewardship of the Earth
	Conclusion
	References
4 Affirming Positive Femininities Through Responsible Ecological Leadership and Stewardship in Rural Masvingo, Zimbabwe
	Introduction
	Self-Insertion
	The Global Ecological Crisis and Its Impact on Africa
	Challenges Facing Zimbabwean Women Today
	Defining Positive Femininities
	Women’s Leadership for Environmental Sustainability in African Independent Churches and African Indigenous Religions in Zimbabwe
	Conclusion
	References
5 Zimbabwean Women’s Leadership and Religio-Cultural Resources in Navigating Risk and Disaster Management: Some Lessons from Cyclone Idai
	Introduction
	Cyclone Idai: A Devastating Natural Disaster That Struck Zimbabwe in March 2019
	The Vulnerability of Women
		Women’s Leadership in Navigating Risk
		Reinforcing the Capacity of Women
		Minimizing the Vulnerability of Children
		Communicating Risk
		Basic Relief Essentials and Information Dissemination
	Why and How to Engage Women in Disaster Preparedness
	The Role and Impact of Religion and Culture
	Recommendations
	Conclusion
	References
6 Towards Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals in Zimbabwe: Christian Women’s Leadership in Gwanda District
	Introduction
	Background to the SGDs’ Implementation in Zimbabwe
	The Strategies Adopted by the Zimbabwean Government to Achieve the SDGs
		SDG 2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture
		SDG 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All at All Ages
		SDG 4: Empower Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities
		SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls
		SDG 9: Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Foster Innovation
		SDG 13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and Its Impacts
	Research Methodology
	Biblical Perspectives on Women and Women’s Leadership
	The Roles Played by Christian Women in Gwanda District Towards Attaining the Selected Six SDGs
		SDG 2: End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture
		SDG 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All at All Ages
		SDG 4: Empower Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities
		SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls
		SDG 9: Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Foster Innovation
		SDG 13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and Its Impacts
	Recommendations
	Conclusion
	References
Part II Religio-Cultural Factors Impacting Women’s Leadership Roles in Zimbabwe
7 Gender Discrepancies in Zimbabwean Religio-Cultural and Political Leadership: A Case Study of Young Christian Women in the Midlands Province
	Introduction
	Methodology
	Overview of the Zimbabwean NGP and Its Nexus with the Legal and Policy Frameworks
	Gender, Politics and Decision-Making
	Gender and Economic Empowerment
	Gender and Health
	Gender, Education and Training
	Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
	Conclusion
	References
8 Of Women’s Leadership in African Indigenous Spirituality: A Focus on the Ndau of South Eastern Zimbabwe
	Introduction
	Theoretical Framework
	Methodology
	Religion and Spirituality
	Concept of Women’s Leadership
	The Ndau of South Eastern Zimbabwe
	Ndau Women’s Leadership on the Socio-Cultural and Economic Sphere
	Ndau Women’s Leadership on the Religious and Political Spheres
	Conclusion
	References
9 Shona Women’s Leadership in Traditional Healing
	The Shona People and Their Socio-Religious Landscape
	Conceptual Background
	Shona Women Traditional Healers: A Gendered Cultural Conundrum
	The Home: A Shona Traditional Religious Communal Prerequisite
	Some Dynamics of Traditional Healing Management
	The Centrality of the Hut and the Attendant Utensils/Objects
	Bota reshupa (Herbal Porridge)
	Indigenous Therapies for Pregnant Women
	Indigenous Remedies for Mothers and Infants
	Other Feminine Domestic Items and Their Spiritual Significance
	Cultural Ethics and Healing: Caregiving in Traditional Healing
	The Use of Love Potions to Tame Men
	Re-empowerment of Women in Zimbabwe
	Conclusion
	References
Index