Vapostori Contribute To ZANU PF Victory In Elections - Study Claims

The members of the white garment churches popularly known as Vapostori contribute significantly to ZANU PF victories in elections, a study claims.

The study, recently released by think-tank the Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU), and titled Religion and Politics in Zimbabwe, reveals that vapostori members have stronger support for ZANU PF than other churches. The report reads in part:

Members of the apostolic churches do have stronger support for Zanu PF than other churches and are a very distinct group from all other religions.

… They have significantly greater social capital, less political fear, and greater political trust.

Clearly, Apostolics are the largest religious group and, if partisan affiliated, can have a significant effect on the outcome of an election.

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When it comes to political participation such as voting, Apostolics are merely a sub-group of the general rural population, and it is this population that demonstrates affiliation for Zanu PF rather than the MDC.

At least, this was so in February 2017, but it also seems fair to conclude that not all members of the Apostolic churches will support or vote for
Zanu PF.

There is a common assumption that the apostolic churches, the Vapostori, represent a “captured” constituency for Zanu PF when it comes to elections.

This is undoubtedly a story with some truth to it but rarely examined in any analytical fashion.

The assumption probably derives some support from the notion that the Apostolic churches take their support from a largely rural population as well as from the poorer sections of Zimbabwean society.

In the past, ZANU PF leaders have addressed apostolic gatherings, numbering in the thousands in some places. Members of the Presidium, both past and current, have been seen wearing the long white robes at apostolic shrines.

More: Newsday