An Analysis of Zimbabwean Community Entrepreneurship Sustenance: A Spiritual Perspective:- The Masowe Apostles Case Study

Abstract

In Zimbabwe there are many different types of entrepreneurs. Some are Christian and some are not. Some practice their entrepreneurship as individuals and some as communities. Religious community entrepreneurs have been observed to be consistent in how they operate and never cease to operate in bad or good economic times. Their enterprises survive even in extreme difficulties. There are also successful entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe who have ascribed their success to religion and this therefore suggest that religion is a factor in the success of both the religious community entrepreneurship and those individuals.. 

This study thus addressed the sustenance of religious community entrepreneurship by the Masowe Apostles, who were named after their leader and founder Johane Masowe. The study was guided by the research paradigm of interpretivism where the exploratory case study strategy in the ethnographic domain was employed.Methods of collecting data were observation, interviews, questionnaires and document analysis.

It was revealed that the Masowe Apostles contribute economically through employment, generation, poverty reduction, reduction in inequalities among church members and improve the welfare of needy community members. Sustenance of their self-reliance is hinged on values and virtues of their African religion akin to Protestantism as well as the training of their children in the self-reliance doctrine.

This paper also revealed that the Masowe Apostles lack technical advancements in their community entrepreneurship and this impedes their business growth.

This paper has made two significant contributions: firstly, by bringing new evidence to bear and secondly by developing a model called Spiritual Community Entrepreneurship which is applicable to the Zimbabwe education system. It is recommended that further studies be carried out at Port Elizabeth where the entrepreneurship of the Masowe Apostles began and was established in order to determine the impact of the economic activities of the Masowe Apostles there.