DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70004#0086
84
The movement, which originated in the USA in 1872, came to the Rhode-
sias in 1911 via South Africa20. It soon incorporated features which deviated
markedly from the original teaching and included many elements of traditional
African religions. In 1925 - 26 in the Lala area of Serenje District, which is
an important area for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a campaign to exterminate
witches was started by T. Nyirenda who called himself Mwana Lesa (Son of
God). As a result, hundreds of women were killed. Nyirenda was eventually
arrested and hanged, his followers fleeing into the Congo. From then on the
Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are known in Central Africa as “Watchtower” or
“Kitawala” (an Africanisation of “tower”), were looked upon with suspicion
by the colonial government. The situation was exacerbated because they re-
fused to acknowledge any worldly authority, that of the colonial government as
well as the chiefs. In 1935 they were blamed for unrest amongst miners on the
Fig. 33: Registered societies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Source: Compiled by author based on data for November 1983 provided by
the Registrar of Societies, Lusaka
The movement, which originated in the USA in 1872, came to the Rhode-
sias in 1911 via South Africa20. It soon incorporated features which deviated
markedly from the original teaching and included many elements of traditional
African religions. In 1925 - 26 in the Lala area of Serenje District, which is
an important area for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a campaign to exterminate
witches was started by T. Nyirenda who called himself Mwana Lesa (Son of
God). As a result, hundreds of women were killed. Nyirenda was eventually
arrested and hanged, his followers fleeing into the Congo. From then on the
Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are known in Central Africa as “Watchtower” or
“Kitawala” (an Africanisation of “tower”), were looked upon with suspicion
by the colonial government. The situation was exacerbated because they re-
fused to acknowledge any worldly authority, that of the colonial government as
well as the chiefs. In 1935 they were blamed for unrest amongst miners on the
Fig. 33: Registered societies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Source: Compiled by author based on data for November 1983 provided by
the Registrar of Societies, Lusaka