Takudzwa Mazwienduna is the informal leader of Zimbabwean Secular Alliance and a member of the Humanist Society of Zimbabwe. This educational series will explore secularism in Zimbabwe from an organizational perspective, and some more.
Here we talk about freethinkers engaging with the media.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: When you’re writing to these newspapers, what is their attitude or orientation?
Takudzwa Mazwienduna: The newspapers are usually indifferent to our plight. They are obliged to include us as national newspapers in the name of diversity because they get religious contributions too.
Jacobsen: What are the acceptance rate of articles and press releases submitted for distribution to these newspaper and media services for secular and freethought – humanist – content in Zimbabwe?
Mazwienduna: The Sunday Mail is Zimbabwe’s biggest Sunday newspaper, and Shingai Rukwata Ndoro has had a column for Humanist and secularist issues entitled Chiseling The Debris since 2014. It has gained a committed audience over the years.
Jacobsen: What have been the main messages other than “we’re here, we’re near, get used to it”?
Mazwienduna: We have helped in sensitizing the public to get up on speed with secular policies, raised our concerns over violations of secularism by government officials and the response was generally positive.
Jacobsen: Why do they portray the community of humanists as Satanists?
Mazwienduna: The nature of Christianity in Zimbabwe is totalitarian amongst the public. You are either for God or for Satan, a rigid belief that was established during colonial times by the London Missionary Society. I always ask people who accuse me of Satanism if they believe in Horus, and if they worship Seth because they don’t.
Jacobsen: When the community grows, or as the community develops, would an internal survey of demographics and attitudes help guide 5-year plans?
Mazwienduna: The nature of Christianity in Zimbabwe is totalitarian amongst the public. You are either for God or for Satan, a rigid belief that was established during colonial times by the London Missionary Society. I always ask people who accuse me of Satanism if they believe in Horus, and if they worship Seth because they don’t.
Jacobsen: How can technology be a means by which to self-publish content? Young Humanists International has a platform called Humanist Voices if they would like to contact me: Scott.D.Jacobsen@Gmail.Com. I am more than happy to publish and polish their content.
Mazwienduna: Internet is not as widespread as it is in South Africa or other well off countries in Zimbabwe. People seldom read online publications and the majority of the population lives in rural areas where they don’t even have electricity. National newspapers and radio have been the main platforms for us.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Takudzwa.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Founder of In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal and In-Sight Publishing. He authored/co-authored some e-books, free or low-cost. If you want to contact Scott: Scott.D.Jacobsen@Gmail.com.
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Canadian Atheist Associates: Godless Mom, Nice Mangoes, Sandwalk, Brainstorm Podcast, Left at the Valley, Life, the Universe & Everything Else, The Reality Check, Bad Science Watch, British Columbia Humanist Association, Dying With Dignity Canada, Canadian Secular Alliance, Centre for Inquiry Canada, Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association.
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Other National/Local Resources: Association humaniste du Québec, Atheist Freethinkers, Central Ontario Humanist Association, Comox Valley Humanists, Grey Bruce Humanists, Halton-Peel Humanist Community, Hamilton Humanists, Humanist Association of London, Humanist Association of Ottawa, Humanist Association of Toronto, Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics of Manitoba, Ontario Humanist Society, Secular Connextions Seculaire, Secular Humanists in Calgary, Society of Free Thinkers (Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge/Guelph), Thunder Bay Humanists, Toronto Oasis, Victoria Secular Humanist Association.
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Other International/Outside Canada Resources: Allianz vun Humanisten, Atheisten an Agnostiker, American Atheists,American Humanist Association, Associação Brasileira de Ateus e AgnósticoséééBrazilian Association of Atheists and Agnostics, Atheist Alliance International, Atheist Alliance of America, Atheist Centre, Atheist Foundation of Australia, The Brights Movement, Center for Inquiry (including Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science), Atheist Ireland, Camp Quest, Inc., Council for Secular Humanism, De Vrije Gedachte, European Humanist Federation, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, Foundation Beyond Belief, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Humanist Association of Ireland, Humanist International, Humanist Association of Germany, Humanist Association of Ireland, Humanist Society of Scotland, Humanists UK, Humanisterna/Humanists Sweden, Internet Infidels, International League of Non-Religious and Atheists, James Randi Educational Foundation, League of Militant Atheists, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, National Secular Society, Rationalist International, Recovering From Religion, Religion News Service, Secular Coalition for America, Secular Student Alliance, The Clergy Project, The Rational Response Squad, The Satanic Temple, The Sunday Assembly, United Coalition of Reason, Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.
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Photo by Elijah O’Donnell on Unsplash