ACADEMIA Letters THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES Norman Pinduka, Africa University The world has been put at a standstill for over 12 twelve months because of the Covid-19 scourge. Possibly, a few envisioned the plague’s global impact when it first made the headlines in Wuhan, China around November, 2019. However, due to its global impact, debates on the pandemic have emerged from different epistemological frameworks and disciplines have attempted to understand the empirical realities of the plague on the social, political and fabric of societies. The search for a scientifically proven remedy has also eclipsed the policing space in both developing and developed states. Perhaps the division between the Global North and Global South has come under the light again, manifesting in the Malagasy case where the alleged discovery of a potential Covid-19 remedy was disparaged, perceptibly due to the country’s scientific capacity vis-à-vis that of states in the First World. The intricacies of the Covid-19 virus have also been experienced within national frontiers, where states have attempted drafting measures meant to limit the cases and fatalities of the menace; and Zimbabwe has not been an exception. Accepting its responsibility as a member of the international community whilst awaiting the discovery of a remedy to Coronavirus; and taking heed of the World Health Organization’s call for precautionary measures against the virus, the country has for approximately 11 months established a National Covid-19 Forced Lockdown (herein, NCFL) – that has since May 2020 become indefinite (with various adjustments especially on curfew times and public gatherings). The objective of this stance has been to lessen the spread of the virus while limiting fatalities. However, the NCFL has been elusive as a result of the structural socio-economic and political subtleties that saddle the country. When the Covid-19 plague was at its peak, there was an surge in cases and fatalities. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 1 The NCFL established in Zimbabwe has been based on various measures but the most common ones include: 1. Closure of ‘non-essential’ services 2. Establishment of a curfew 3. Mandatory and proper wearing of masks in public spaces 4. Prohibition of travelling to spaces above 5 Kilometers if not in the essential services and without a stamped letter from the essential services organisation 5. Social distancing; and, 6. Establishment of roadblocks in all roads that lead to the Central Business District (CBD) The establishment of NCFL cannot be detached from the country’s structural fabrics, particularly, the economic woes, that have been a result of internal and external forces[1] of the past two decades which have occasioned a surge of informality impacting negatively on the economic security of citizens. The implementation of the NCFL has hence been a vision as over 90%[2] of Zimbabweans depend on the informal economy and operate from the CBD and the fringes of it. Even those formally employed have also established side-hustles[3] due to starvation wages that are paid in the local currencies yet most services are charged in foreign currency, particularly the United States Dollar which is readily available in the black market, however in inflated prizes. As a result, most people outside the essential services sector have found their way into the CBD by either bribing security officials stationed at roadblocks or acquiring stamped letters from institutions categorized under essential services (they have to pay to get the letters). Additionally, since informality in Zimbabwe is composed of the survivalist players, without engaging in informal business transactions, their economic life is jeopardised. Consequently, those in the retail industry and trade sector have been violating NCFL to survive. A case in point is that of vendors, restaurants, bottle stores and nights clubs. The latter have continued to operate 24/7 besides the lockdown measures, selling alcohol beverages through windows or backdoors. In some cases, people are locked inside nightclubs regularly without face masks and with music at the lowest possible volumes. Owners bribe security officials to continue operating. The military is the most feared uniformed security force in Zimbabwe but their patrols have been rendered useless as in most cases they take bribes and in certain cases, some of them end up joining clubbers. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 2 The worst part has been the deliberate violation of the NCFL regulations by those linked to the top political brass of the ruling party – Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). Besides members of the party and even government members hosting parties, images of which have gone viral, the party has repeatedly called for meetings which has left people questioning how they fall under essential services. All these factors have rendered the NCFL elusive and inadequate. This has impacted on Covid-19 cases and fatalities at the peak of the first, second and third wave of the virus. It is however important to note that the government of Zimbabwe has played a vital role in ensuring that citizens are vaccinated particularly in 2021. Against this backdrop and as a way forward, the researcher suggests that the government should continue with its national vaccination program which has to be followed by a less stringent lockdown and the improvement of occupational safety and health in the informal economy. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 3 References [1] Sachikonye, L. (2009). Zimbabwe’s Lost Decade: Politics, Development and the Society. Weaver Press: Harare. [2]Mandaza, I. (2015). The Political Economy of the State in Zimbabwe: The rise and fall of the Securocrat State in Zimbabwe: Challenges Democratization and Economic Recovery Agenda: Harare. SAPES Books. [3] Common language in Zimbabwe used to refer to informality. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 4 

ACADEMIA Letters THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES Norman Pinduka, Africa University The world has been put at a standstill for over 12 twelve months because of the Covid-19 scourge. Possibly, a few envisioned the plague’s global impact when it first made the headlines in Wuhan, China around November, 2019. However, due to its global impact, debates on the pandemic have emerged from different epistemological frameworks and disciplines have attempted to understand the empirical realities of the plague on the social, political and fabric of societies. The search for a scientifically proven remedy has also eclipsed the policing space in both developing and developed states. Perhaps the division between the Global North and Global South has come under the light again, manifesting in the Malagasy case where the alleged discovery of a potential Covid-19 remedy was disparaged, perceptibly due to the country’s scientific capacity vis-à-vis that of states in the First World. The intricacies of the Covid-19 virus have also been experienced within national frontiers, where states have attempted drafting measures meant to limit the cases and fatalities of the menace; and Zimbabwe has not been an exception. Accepting its responsibility as a member of the international community whilst awaiting the discovery of a remedy to Coronavirus; and taking heed of the World Health Organization’s call for precautionary measures against the virus, the country has for approximately 11 months established a National Covid-19 Forced Lockdown (herein, NCFL) – that has since May 2020 become indefinite (with various adjustments especially on curfew times and public gatherings). The objective of this stance has been to lessen the spread of the virus while limiting fatalities. However, the NCFL has been elusive as a result of the structural socio-economic and political subtleties that saddle the country. When the Covid-19 plague was at its peak, there was an surge in cases and fatalities. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 1 The NCFL established in Zimbabwe has been based on various measures but the most common ones include: 1. Closure of ‘non-essential’ services 2. Establishment of a curfew 3. Mandatory and proper wearing of masks in public spaces 4. Prohibition of travelling to spaces above 5 Kilometers if not in the essential services and without a stamped letter from the essential services organisation 5. Social distancing; and, 6. Establishment of roadblocks in all roads that lead to the Central Business District (CBD) The establishment of NCFL cannot be detached from the country’s structural fabrics, particularly, the economic woes, that have been a result of internal and external forces[1] of the past two decades which have occasioned a surge of informality impacting negatively on the economic security of citizens. The implementation of the NCFL has hence been a vision as over 90%[2] of Zimbabweans depend on the informal economy and operate from the CBD and the fringes of it. Even those formally employed have also established side-hustles[3] due to starvation wages that are paid in the local currencies yet most services are charged in foreign currency, particularly the United States Dollar which is readily available in the black market, however in inflated prizes. As a result, most people outside the essential services sector have found their way into the CBD by either bribing security officials stationed at roadblocks or acquiring stamped letters from institutions categorized under essential services (they have to pay to get the letters). Additionally, since informality in Zimbabwe is composed of the survivalist players, without engaging in informal business transactions, their economic life is jeopardised. Consequently, those in the retail industry and trade sector have been violating NCFL to survive. A case in point is that of vendors, restaurants, bottle stores and nights clubs. The latter have continued to operate 24/7 besides the lockdown measures, selling alcohol beverages through windows or backdoors. In some cases, people are locked inside nightclubs regularly without face masks and with music at the lowest possible volumes. Owners bribe security officials to continue operating. The military is the most feared uniformed security force in Zimbabwe but their patrols have been rendered useless as in most cases they take bribes and in certain cases, some of them end up joining clubbers. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 2 The worst part has been the deliberate violation of the NCFL regulations by those linked to the top political brass of the ruling party – Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). Besides members of the party and even government members hosting parties, images of which have gone viral, the party has repeatedly called for meetings which has left people questioning how they fall under essential services. All these factors have rendered the NCFL elusive and inadequate. This has impacted on Covid-19 cases and fatalities at the peak of the first, second and third wave of the virus. It is however important to note that the government of Zimbabwe has played a vital role in ensuring that citizens are vaccinated particularly in 2021. Against this backdrop and as a way forward, the researcher suggests that the government should continue with its national vaccination program which has to be followed by a less stringent lockdown and the improvement of occupational safety and health in the informal economy. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 3 References [1] Sachikonye, L. (2009). Zimbabwe’s Lost Decade: Politics, Development and the Society. Weaver Press: Harare. [2]Mandaza, I. (2015). The Political Economy of the State in Zimbabwe: The rise and fall of the Securocrat State in Zimbabwe: Challenges Democratization and Economic Recovery Agenda: Harare. SAPES Books. [3] Common language in Zimbabwe used to refer to informality. Academia Letters, November 2021 ©2021 by the author — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Norman Pinduka, pindukan@africau.edu Citation: Pinduka, N. (2021). THE ELUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE IN ZIMBABWE: FOUNDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. Academia Letters, Article 4164. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4164. 4