Religion and COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe

Tenson Muyambo earned a PhD from the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), South Africa. He is a research fellow at the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) Research Institute for Theology and Religion (RITR), College of Human Sciences. He lectures at the Great Zimbabwe University, and researches and publishes extensively on indigenous knowledge systems, religion (Ndau indigenous religion), gender, education, pandemics and African Spirituality. He has co- edited the books, Religion and the COVID- 19 Pandemic in Southern Africa (2022) and Re- imagining Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in 21st Century Africa: Debunking Myths and Misconceptions for Conviviality and Sustainability (2022). Fortune Sibanda (PhD) is a professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo and Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Eswatini, Eswatini. Professor Sibanda is also a research fellow in the Research Institute for Theology and Religion, UNISA, South Africa. He is a specialist in the History and Phenomenology of Religion; African Indigenous Religions and New Religious Movements (particularly Rastafari). His research interests include Indigenous Knowledge Systems, religion and health, religion and the environment, human rights issues, law and religion, religion and the culinary arts tackled from an African perspective. Sibanda has published edited books, book chapters and his work has also appeared in refereed journals. He is a member of a number of academic associations, including the American Academy of Religion (AAR), African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS), African Theological Institutions in Southern and Central Africa (ATISCA), Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA) and African Association for the Study of Religion (AASR). Professor Sibanda is a member of the ACLARS Publication Committee and ACLARS Board member. Ezra Chitando (DPhil) is a professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of Zimbabwe. His broad research and publication interests include method and theory in the study of religion, as well as religion, health, gender, security, politics, development, climate change, and sexuality, among others.

Chapter 1: Introduction: Religion and COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe

Tenson Muyambo, Fortune Sibanda & Ezra Chitando

Chapter 2: Bridging the ‘Social Distance’ between Public Health and Religion: Insights from Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe

Mutsawashe Chitando and Ezra Chitando

Chapter 3: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and COVID-19 : A Case Study of the Ndau in eastern Zimbabwe

Anniegrace Hlatywayo and Sophia Chirongoma

Chapter 4: Unpacking and Repackaging the Shona Funeral and Post Burial Rites in the Context of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) in Zimbabwe

Beatrice Taringa & Sophia Chirongoma

Chapter 5: Situating mainline Christian churches’ responses to COVID-19 vaccination in Masvingo and Bikita Districts, Zimbabwe

Tenson Muyambo, Josiah Taru & Fortune Sibanda

Chapter 6: ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ (John 1:46): The Relevance of Apostolic Women’s Empowerment Trust in the Context of COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe

Tobias Marevesa and Fortune Sibanda

Chapter 7: Muslim response to COVID19 vaccination in Zimbabwe: A focus on Mberengwa ummah

Edmore Dube

Chapter 8: Migrant Communities and COVID-19 Vaccination at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Zimbabwe

Wisdom Sibanda

Chapter 9: COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe: Sites and scenes of power contestations through the lenses of spirituality and uncertainty

Tarsisio M. Nyatsanza

Chapter 10: African Indigenous Churches’ response to the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Zimbabwe: A case of Johane Marange Apostolic Church

Henerieta Mgovo

Chapter 11: ‘Disconcerting Vaccination Voices’: Experiences of diasporic Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom

Nomatter Sande and Silas Nyadzo

Chapter 12: Vaccination uptake and power dynamics: Insights from African Initiated Churches and traditional healers in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

Excellent Chiresh and Mavis Thokozile Macheka

Chapter 13: The Bible and COVID-19 Vaccination in Zimbabwe: Critical Reflections on the Influence of the Bible on both Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy

Makomborero Allen Bowa

Chapter 14: Vaccination in African Initiated Churches in Zimbabwe: A recipe for Church ideological bisection

Bernard Pindukai Humbe

Chapter 15: Shona Traditional Religion, Gender and COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe: The case of Buhera South, Manicaland province

Maradze Viriri, Etwin Machibaya & Cuthbert Pisirai

Chapter 16: From Religion and COVID-19 Vaccination to Religion and Development? A Review

Ezra Chitando, Tenson Muyambo and Fortune Sibanda