Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Youth Interactive Correspondent
Faith-oriented literature took a prominent position at this year’s Literature Festival (LitFest )in Harare after Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Chaplain-General Mr Trust Mashingaidze presented four new theological books as part of the 2025 programme.
The festival, which ran under the theme “Celebrating New Publications – Books Published in 2025,” was showcasing new works from across the country, with organisers reporting increased submissions in religious and devotional writing.
Mr Mashingaidze presented Theology of Ecology, Rangers Daily, Exegetical Summary for Major Prophets and Exegetical Summary for Minor Prophets, and said the books were developed to strengthen biblical understanding and address contemporary spiritual challenges. In his remarks, he said the publications were shaped by what he described as an intense period of reflection in 2025.
“The year became for me a spiritual furnace — a place where God pressed me and purified me,” he said.
Mr Mashingaidze said Theology of Ecology promotes responsible environmental stewardship, adding that society has become disconnected from the natural world.
“We live in a generation that has learned how to exploit creation, but forgotten how to listen to it,” he said.
On Rangers Daily, Mr Mashingaidze said the devotional book supports members of security services and others who operate in demanding environments.
“Even warriors need worship,” he said.
The exegetical summaries, which focus on the major and minor prophetic books of the Bible, aim to simplify theological concepts for ordinary readers.
“A Bible you do not understand is a destiny you cannot fulfil,” he said.
LitFest continues to record growing interest in works that combine scholarship with spirituality, reflecting a wider national trend in reading preferences.
The presence of authors such as Mr Mashingaidze demonstrated how theological literature is becoming more visible in mainstream literary spaces.
Mr Mashingaidze said his intention was to provide materials that support personal development and structured Bible study. “The purpose is to awaken the conscience, instruct the believer and restore the prophetic voice of the church,” he said.
The festival ran throughout the week, featuring book launches, readings and discussions with local and regional authors.
