Jehovah's Witnesses in Mozambique
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Jehovah's Witnesses have over 20 publishers in Mozambique, with an approximate amount of 90 congregation members and an equal number of supporters. The figure is in reference to the Yearbook of 2015 Jehovah's Witnesses where 272,108 people participated in its main Celebration, the Memorial of Christ's death 2014.[1]
First contact[edit]
Mozambican, Albino Mhelembe became acquainted with the Jehovah's Witnesses' message while working in the mines of Johannesburg, South Africa. Mhelembe was baptized in 1925 before returning home to Mozambique. Mhelembe began to preach to members of a former church of the Swiss Mission in Louise village (today Maracuene), in the most southern province of Mozambique. A number of zealous Africans took great interest in the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses'. They were often willing to travel as far as 30 km to reach the meetings. They formed groups, for example in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo.
Around this time the Bible message was starting to be spread to the north. Gresham Kwazirirah, an African in Nyasaland (now Malawi), had studied the book The Harp of God, with the help of John and Esther Hubson in South Africa. In 1927, Gresham, accompanied by Biliyati Kapacika, moved to Mozambique in search of employment. They entered the country by the Milange region, traveled south to Inhaminga, Sofala and found jobs working for the Trans-Zambezia railways.
Inhaminga had a congregation of a movement called Watch tower in 1929. Coming from southern Africa, the first European Jehovah's Witnesses, Henry and Edith Myrdal, began to bear witness to the Portuguese population. Four years later, they were joined by the Jager couple. As a result of their coming many seeds were released about biblical truths.[2]
Religious history in 1925[edit]
This denomination has been present in the country since 1925. When the existence of this group was discovered by Portuguese colonists, the group became subject to oppression, since the colonists professed the Catholic religion. However, even after independence in 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses were still being persecuted by the Frelimo government led by Samora Machel. The group was mistakenly seen as belonging to a particular political party, so during the period between September 1975 and February 1976 the followers were all deported to a refugee camp. The camp was located in the Milange village in the province of Zambezia. While there, the Jehovah's Witnesses were tortured and punished for their beliefs. ...[3]
At the time the state of Former head Armando Guebuza was the Minister of Internal Affairs of the transitional government, announced the creation of camps or rehabilitation centers. This type of program was characteristic of other socialist totalitarian regimes such as the former Soviet Union or China ... Jehovah's Witnesses were targets of this gruesome attack by not being part of the world as well as claim in their publications.[4] However, by refusing to perform compulsory military service, sing the National Anthem and others., Were caught on the streets of the main city of Mozambique, particularly in Maputo, Beira, Inhambane, according to reports in international newspapers.[5][6]
Government recognition as a religious organization[edit]
In the refugee camp or re-education camp, Jehovah's Witnesses were attacked by Renamo guerrillas in 1983. Many died, and these deaths led Jehovah's Witnesses to move on to Zambia and Malawi in September 1985 to look for a peaceful site. The Mozambican government realized that the group was not political but religious, due to the passivity shown as the group was oppressed and did not retaliate. On February 11, 1991, Jehovah's Witnesses were legally recognized as a religious organization and were allowed to diffuse the biblical teaching of their God Jehovah.[7]
The group soon created its headquarters in Maputo on September 1, 1992, in a large house which the Company (Watchtower) acquired and renovated in the area of many embassies. This awarded it the name of Bethel, which means "The house of God." The Mozambican affiliate began its work to supervise this vast field.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ↑ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2015, page 182
- ↑ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1996 118,119 Page
- ↑ http://minhateca.com.br/elidiomatola/Documentos/Trapalho--Testemunha+de+Jeov*c3*a1,89582428.docx Accessed 13 March 2015
- ↑ Stay in God's Love; Chapter 5; page 51-61
- ↑ http://dw.de/as-feridas-abertas-pelo-processo-de-reeducação-em-moçambique/a-16948901 Accessed 13 March 2015
- ↑ http://triplov.com/miguel_garcia/mocambique/capitulo3/protestantes.htm Retrieved on 13 March 2015
- ↑ http://minhateca.com.br/elidiomatola/Documentos/Trapalho--Testemunha+de+Jeov*c3*a1,89582428.docx Retrieved on 13 March 2015
- ↑ Who is doing the will of Jehovah today, 2012, page 21
- ↑ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1996, PP. 181.182
External links[edit]
- Official site of Jehovah's Witnesses in Portuguese
- Official site of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sena
- yb96 146–147 Page accessed on 13 March 2015 in Portuguese]
pl:Świadkowie Jehowy w Mozambiku pt:Testemunhas de Jeová em Moçambique
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