The Politicization of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe and Implications on the Attainment of the SDGs

Emmanuel Ndhlovu and David Mhlanga
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Emmanuel Ndhlovu: Vaal University of Technology
David Mhlanga: The University of Johannesburg, School of Business and Economics

Chapter Chapter 20 in Post-Independence Development in Africa, 2023, pp 365-385 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter explores the politicization of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the associated response mechanisms in Zimbabwe. Underpinned by Foucault’s theory of biopower, and utilizing in-depth interviews as well as secondary literature sources obtained in academic and gray literature, this article posits that the adopted COVID-19 response mechanisms proved to be not basically about serving lives and livelihoods, but political weapons used to suppress political gatherings frustrate citizen protests and execute surveillance on opposition political parties. The ruling party’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic is, therefore, a clear indication of how biological and health issues can easily be changed into political issues which can have huge negative implications for the attainment of sustainable development goals.

Keywords: Biopolitics; COVID-19; Lockdown; Sustainable development goals; ZANU-PF; Zimbabwe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:aaechp:978-3-031-30541-2_20

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-30541-2_20

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