Tauya Chinama on Witchcraft and Humanism in Zimbabwe
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2023/11/17
Tauya Chinama is a Zimbabwean born philosopher, Humanist, apatheist, academic researcher and educator. He is also into human rights struggles as the founding leader of a Social Democrats Association (SODA) a youth civic movement which lobbies and advocates for the inclusion and recognition of the young people into decision making processes and boards throughout the country anchored on Sustainable development goal 16 (Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions). Here we talk about Humanism and witchcraft superstitions in Zimbabwe.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How did you come to a humanist outlook, a scientific view?
Tauya Chinama: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will try to be as brief as possible in responding to this brief interview. It started when I was training to be a priest. After finishing my primary and secondary school, I joined the Divine Word missionaries to be formed as a Catholic priest in the neighbouring country to my country. That is in Zambia, where I studied religious studies and philosophy. When I was studying philosophy, I managed to get in contact with so many principles of philosophy. Philosophy has 5 main branches. One of those main branches is logic. I fell in love with logic. Some modules like natural theology. We used to use videos of the likes of Richard Dawkins. I saw the likes of Richard Dawkins. Richard Dawkins inspired me. I saw what he was saying making sense. It challenged the view I had towards religion. I was extremely religious. I was a believer. It faded slowly starting during my years of studying philosophy. I started to doubt. Which means, I became agnostic. Later on from agnostic, I became atheistic. I moved from being agnostic and atheistic. I am now apatheistic. Apatheistic and humanistic, where I say I care about people’s lives, care about people’s values, care about people’s wellbeing, more than to care about a particular deity or a supernatural being. So, my conversion, if I am to use religious terms, to Humanism or to a scientific view happened in the world of formation, when I was formed to be a Catholic priest of which I quit the formation in early 2018. I think I have said enough.
Jacobsen: What was the state of witchcraft beliefs growing up, around you?
Chinama: The state of witchcraft beliefs when I grew up and even where I am to this day; people really and strongly believe in the existence of witchcraft. Normally, when I try to explain to people, I am ostracized. “You have been spoiled by philosophy.” “You are confused.” Some would even say, “You failed to be a priest. You are full of confusion.” They don’t value the scientific way of viewing things. People really believe there is witchcraft. They think it is a reality. There are a lot of stories around to buttress that belief.
Jacobsen: What is the state of witchcraft beliefs in Zimbabwe now?
Chinama: As we speak, it didn’t change much. It changed because we threw away some of the beliefs. The beliefs, last census showed 10% of the Zimbabwean population are non-religious. So, probably, there are in there different shades. You have militant atheist. You have moderate. You have apatheist, as I said. You have agnostics. It is still there. There is a lot of work to be done. Unfortunately, sometimes, we are limited due to lack of necessary resources to execute public awareness to execute a number of things to change how people think. It is a process which does not happen overnight. It is a process that is critical reflection and coming up with strategy on how to change the people’s worldviews, how to change the status quo.
Jacobsen: How large is the humanist community in Zimbabwe?
Chinama: It is not so clear how large it is. But as I said, the census showed 10% of the population somehow are non-religious. It is very hard getting the exact percentage of non-religious people. Non-religious is not something fashionable. You can lose economic opportunity. You can lose people’s support. You can lose people’s trust because people don’t know what Humanism is about, probably because the environment is toxically religious.
Jacobsen: How is combatting various irrationalities, including witchcraft beliefs, in Zimbabwe?
Chinama: Personally, I have been trying my best going to the media, writing, trying to talk to the people. Some they would say, “Yeah, you seem to make sense.” Some would just dismiss you. But I will not give up. It is a process. I am sure after some time we are going to have results.
Jacobsen: What tend to be the more negative consequences of witchcraft beliefs in Zimbabwean society?
Chinama: The consequence is human rights abuse. People are being abused. If you are accused of witchcraft, you are likely to be assaulted. The police don’t do much. The majority of the people accused are marginalized and powerless people in society. People are no longer respected. One of the more negative consequences are human rights are abused. Their dignity is stripped.
Jacobsen: Who tend to be the more vulnerable sectors affected by these superstitions about witchcraft and so on? Dr. Leo Igwe connected us. I understand the context of elderly women and the very young being physically damaged, even killed by community and family, due to accusations of witchcraft.
Chinama: It’s true. Women, especially elder, and people with disabilities are accused of witchcraft. People with ailments are easily accused of witchcraft. So, despite some of the them living with disabilities, being elderly, being impoverished, those problems they face; they face another challenge of their being responsible for their suffering due to the witch accusations. It is so touching. It is so serious. In our education system, a number of teachers believe in that superstition. When a teacher or a parent believes in this, which means the way people are being formed cognitively, obviously, people are being prepared to accept such beliefs.
Jacobsen: What have been your efforts to combat superstition in Zimbabwe?
Chinama: I have been trying my best. Unfortunately, I am still building my profile. My ultimate goal is to be a public intellectual. Being a public intellectual would help me to embark in society in a better way, I am trying my best and doing what I can, doing conversations, talking to people. Recently, I joined the Humanist TV Africa. I hope to bring programs around those issues too.
Jacobsen: How can people support Zimbabwean efforts to combat witchcraft superstition?
Chinama: The best way people can support us is by affording us resources. We have personnel. People are prepared to fight this. We have a number of humanists locally. Some of them, I am working with to structure humanists in Zimbabwe. The likes of colleague Mxolisi Blessed Masuku. Some might not be comfortable for me to mention their names. If we can get something, resources, in terms of literature, probably, some financial resources. Some promotional materials like t-shirts, and then partnering with organizations. We need capacity building.
Jacobsen: Any final thoughts?
Chinama: I think there is a lot that we need to do as humanists in Zimbabwe. I think I can pen a number of articles, and videos and audios. I have been working a podcast with my brother, a fellow humanist Masuku. Our podcast is called Humanist Hubris.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Tauya.
Chinama: I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I hope my contributions make a lot of sense. I hope some people will get this information and share with you, and help us in Zimbabwe and be good partners for us to be successful.
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