Paper short abstract:

Using the criminological and sociological theory, this qualitative study seeks to examine how religious beliefs impact on the commission of crimes overtly and covertly in arranged marriages and subsequent effects involving under-age girls and young women within the JMAC.

Paper long abstract:

There has been an intricate relationship between spirituality and criminality in virginity tests, organized and forced marriages within churches in Africa and Zimbabwe in particular where among others, the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church (JMAC) looms large. Using the criminological and sociological theory, this qualitative study seeks to examine how religious beliefs impact on the commission of crimes overtly and covertly in arranged marriages and subsequent effects involving under-age girls and young women within the JMAC. The paper is premised on the argument that the political relationship and collusion between the church and the government of Zimbabwe makes it less likely to prosecute perpetrators and let alone rescue the victims. By deriving votes and calculated prophesies from the church, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) led government pays a blind eye to criminal activities in the name of religion. The failure by the government to act is interpreted as an acknowledgement of criminal activities giving the church an opportunity to act with impunity leading to multiple life-threatening consequences on the girl child and young women. The research further traces how indoctrination, threats, denial of formal education and poverty and lead victims to see no crime in these activities that are destructive to their lives. Zimbabwe which is a signatory of numerous conventions that protect women and child rights seems to pay less attention to crimes being committed by chosen religious sects. This is despite efforts by the local, regional and international instruments calling for parties to take all appropriate measures to eliminate harmful social, religious and cultural practices affecting the welfare, dignity and normal growth of women and children. The importance of this research lies in addressing an inherently and deliberately ignored issue of the complex connection between religion and crime in the African context.