FAITH AND ENTERPRISE: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS VALUES IN BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

Abstract

In many African nations, legal frameworks have been developed to support the economic empowerment of local populations by promoting indigenous entrepreneurship. In Zimbabwe, these frameworks are rooted in the concept of indigenization, which aims to prioritize the economic interests of native citizens. However, despite these initiatives, indigenous Zimbabweans often remain entrenched in informal economic activities that fail to translate into meaningful contributions to the national economy. Compared to foreign nationals, indigenous entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe exhibit relatively low levels of business participation and enterprise success. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are essential to economic development, continue to underperform, raising questions about the effectiveness of current empowerment policies. While much of the literature focuses on political and economic explanations for these challenges, less attention has been paid to the socio-cultural factors that may hinder entrepreneurial performance. In particular, the role of religious values—alongside persistent ethnic marginalization—emerges as a potentially significant yet underexplored dimension. This study seeks to investigate how religious beliefs and practices influence entrepreneurial behavior and performance among indigenous communities in Zimbabwe. By understanding the socio-cultural barriers to successful entrepreneurship, especially those tied to religion and ethnicity, this research aims to contribute to more effective, context-specific empowerment strategies for sustainable economic inclusion.