The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Religious Beliefs and Practices in Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The first cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in China in December 2019. Since then, the disease has spread fast at international levels, Zimbabwe included. Due to the fast spread of the disease in terms of casualties and geographic coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus pandemic a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. In Zimbabwe the first COVID-19 case was reported on 21 March in the resort town of Victoria Falls. The country enforced lockdowns as one of the public health response measures. The main purpose of the study is to critique the impact of COVID-19 on religious beliefs and practices of Christians and African Indigenous Religions (AIRs) adherents in Matabeleland South Province. The qualitative approach was employed using the descriptive case study design.
Purposive sampling method was used to select thirty (30) research participants. Online open-ended questionnaires and telephone interviews were the main tools. The theoretical framework of this study was guided by Ninian Smart’s seven dimensions of religions. The findings were that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the religious beliefs and practices of the Christians and AIRs adherents in Matabeleland South. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of worship service gatherings, ceremonies and festivals. Many churches have resorted to online services. Some people even questioned the existence and supremacy of the Christian and AIRs Supreme Being. A majority of people began to use African Traditional medicines and methods on top of Western medicines to serve themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, some Christians and AIRs adherents have been drawn nearer to God. The study concluded that COVID-19 has impacted negatively and positively on the religious beliefs and practices of the Matabeleland  South populace. The study recommends that the Zimbabwean government should work together with the international community to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. There should be more broadcasts online of church sermons and religious services through social media platforms. The communities should be educated on the importance of maintaining nature and ecological balance since COVID-19 is alleged to have originated from wild animals.