Abstract
This chapter focuses on the Government of Zimbabwe’s policy interventions to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic was a complex issue that required a concerted effort from different stakeholders to curb the impacts and reduce the vulnerabilities, especially among the urban poor. In this chapter, we perceive policies as any action the government decides to do or not do regarding a particular phenomenon. Therefore, policies are inherently embedded in ideologies or worldviews, depending on what the government values or decides to act on. Focusing on urban Zimbabwe, this chapter documents the COVID-19 statistics in Zimbabwe and how the Zimbabwean government responded to control the COVID-19 outbreak and meet the populace’s social protection needs. To this end, the chapter analyzes the policy decisions made by the government to curb the spread of the pandemic. The chapter is based on document review of the policy measures, including statutory instruments and presidential decrees, which substantially impacted people’s livelihoods. The chapter reveals that most COVID-19 pandemic policies were top-down and interventionistic, as they were directives from the WHO that dictated global interventions. Subsequently, these policies had little regard for the welfare of the urban poor resulting in worsening suffering as the urban poor struggled to make ends meet. This chapter urges governments to ensure that policy interventions during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic are inclusive and accessible to the urban poor and to address the underlying social and economic inequalities perpetuating discrimination. In the future, it is essential to consider the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and develop more comprehensive and resilient urban policies, which are better prepared to respond to future crises. This will require the collaboration of government, civil society, and private sector and a commitment to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society.
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Notes
- 1.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising 15 member states in Southern Africa.
- 2.
The term “infodemic” refers to an overabundance of information, including both accurate and inaccurate information, about a particular topic, which makes it difficult for people to find trustworthy and reliable information. The COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by a significant infodemic, with an overwhelming amount of information circulating online and through social media. This created challenges for public health officials and individuals alike. Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the virus and the vaccines spread quickly, leading to confusion and mistrust in public health measures. This made it more difficult for public health officials to communicate accurate and important information about the pandemic and the measures needed to control its spread.
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Bhanye, J.I., Mangara, F., Matamanda, A.R., Kachena, L. (2023). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Urban Policy Interventions in Zimbabwe. In: COVID-19 Lockdowns and the Urban Poor in Harare, Zimbabwe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41669-9_4
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