Zimbabwean journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin’ono has launched a scathing critique of religious exploitation, weak education standards and political leadership in Zimbabwe, warning that widespread belief in what he described as “nonsense” is holding the country back.
In a series of posts on X on Friday, Chin’ono argued that poor education outcomes and the ruling elite’s relationship with self-styled prophets have created fertile ground for mass manipulation.
“The madness in my country is beyond words,” Chin’ono wrote. “There are thousands of adults who genuinely believe this nonsense. It explains why a ruling yet corrupt elite can manipulate the minds of people who are often unaware of how foolish they sound.”
He contrasted Zimbabwe’s approach with Rwanda, where he said the state had intervened by introducing a regulatory framework for churches to protect citizens from exploitation. In Zimbabwe, Chin’ono alleged, the situation is the opposite.
“The ruling party works hand in glove with these charlatans, which is precisely why they thrive and why they are here to stay,” he said, adding that parents should at least “protect your children from this idiocy being sold as faith by fake prophets.”
Chin’ono linked the prevalence of religious superstition to broader developmental challenges, arguing that Africa needs “psychological redemption” alongside economic reform. Using a provocative comparison, he said white commercial farmers displaced from land went on to build industries in cities, while others turned to religion in search of jobs.
“You honestly could not make this up,” he wrote, mocking what he described as misplaced priorities.
He further compared Zimbabwe’s trajectory with global technological advancements, noting that while children in China, Europe and the United States are engaged in science, technology and innovation, many Zimbabweans remain susceptible to superstition.
The journalist placed much of the blame on Zimbabwe’s education system, citing decades of poor Ordinary Level (O Level) examination results. According to Chin’ono, pass rates have frequently hovered below one-third of candidates.
“Zimbabwe has never had an O Level pass rate above 33 percent in over 40 years,” he said, noting that 2024 recorded about 33.19 percent, the highest on record. He recalled that pass rates fell to around 14.44 percent in 2008 and remained in the high teens in several other years, including about 18.4 percent in 2012.
“That reality produces generations that are easy to mislead, easy to exploit, and easy to mobilise around superstition instead of knowledge,” Chin’ono argued.
He concluded by calling for “serious, disciplined political and national leadership” to address the crisis, citing Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as an example.
“Citizens sometimes have to be protected from organised stupidity and mass deception if a nation is to move forward,” Chin’ono said.
