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The Impact of COVID-19 on Economic Development in Zimbabwe: Implications on the Health Delivery System

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The COVID-19 - Health Systems Nexus

Part of the book series: Global Perspectives on Health Geography ((GPHG))

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on economies worldwide, and Zimbabwe is not an exception. The economic impacts have had implications for the health delivery systems. Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic development and, therefore, on the health delivery system in Zimbabwe is uncontestably fundamental to inform and adapt the responses of government and other stakeholders to recover from the crisis. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on selected economic metrics such as the production of goods and services, inflation, and unemployment in Zimbabwe. It deduces the implications of the economic impacts on the health delivery system. The document analysis approach was adopted as the primary strategy for inquiry. Data on the trends of cases and related variables were obtained from interactive digital platforms such as the ZimStats website. It has emerged from the study that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in inflation, increased unemployment, a decrease in the growth rate of GDP and the creation of a burden on the health delivery system of Zimbabwe. It is concluded from this study that COVID-19 has profound negative impacts on the economic development and the health delivery system of Zimbabwe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Science, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

    Evans Chazireni, Boycen Kumira Mudzengi & Gideon Walter Mutanda

Authors
  1. Evans Chazireni
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  2. Boycen Kumira Mudzengi
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  3. Gideon Walter Mutanda
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Correspondence to Evans Chazireni .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions, Institute for Corporate Citizenship, University of South Africa, Unisa, South Africa

    Lazarus Chapungu

  2. Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions, Institute for Corporate Citizenship, University of South Africa, Unisa, South Africa

    David Chikodzi

  3. Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Public Relations Management Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Kaitano Dube

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Chazireni, E., Mudzengi, B.K., Mutanda, G.W. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 on Economic Development in Zimbabwe: Implications on the Health Delivery System. In: Chapungu, L., Chikodzi, D., Dube, K. (eds) The COVID-19 - Health Systems Nexus. Global Perspectives on Health Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21602-2_11

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