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How an Apostolic women’s group helped Zimbabwe counter vaccine hesitancy

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2023

BY ELIA NTALI

When the first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Zimbabwe in early 2021, rumours and misconceptions around their development swirled. Vaccine hesitancy rates rose dangerously.

The government activated awareness campaigns on all media platforms to encourage citizens to get inoculated against the pandemic virus.

But particularly in Zimbabwe’s Apostolic religious community, uptake promised to be slow.

Some 37% of Zimbabweans belong to the Apostolic church, a Christian sect that traditionally shies away from allopathic medical intervention, owing to a belief that illness has a spiritual dimension, and that healing is a function of faith. Amid an outbreak of infectious disease, that’s a dangerous position to preach.

“Personally, I had fears, because growing up, we were of the belief that taking vaccines was getting the biblical mark of the beast. I am happy that our church leaders who had not been tolerating immunisation are now encouraging us to take our children to clinics.”

Rumbidzai Shayanewako, 32, mother of fourEnter the Apostolic Women Empowerment Trust (AWET), partnered with UNICEF, who have conducted awareness campaigns that have created demand for the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and child immunisation.

AWET’s head of programmes, Hope Dunira, says the organisation engaged members of the apostolic communities through training that was centred on traditional and church leaders.

“We embarked on a training programme that targeted traditional and religious leaders. The training was to educate the leaders to encourage their church members from different churches to access health services such as routine immunisation and the COVID-19 vaccine. This workshop assisted in getting buy-in and support from vital church leaders at national level.

AWET trained 52 District Focal Persons (DFPs) on all issues of COVID-19, in order for them to train behaviour-change facilitators on vaccine uptake, impacts of COVID-19, where to access vaccines, and how to prevent it. The DFPs were also responsible for collecting crucial community feedback and acting upon it. This helped build trust between AWET and the apostolic communities. The DFPs linked apostolic members to the local clinics so that arrangements are done to vaccinate members in confidence.

“We also trained more than 2,000 Behaviour Change Facilitators (BCFs) from the Apostolic communities responsible for awareness-raising campaigns on COVID-19, and promoting the uptake of essential services – inclusive of vaccines – from 52 districts, and eight provinces in the country. These BCFs have leverage in penetrating the church as they are part of the church themselves. Hence, they do not face resistance,” said Dunira.

Rumbidzai Shayanewako, 32, a mother of four and a member of one of the ultraconservative apostolic churches, said she gained confidence after interventions from healthcare workers and non-governmental organisations.

“Members from Apostolic churches are attributing the lower death rate and the higher recovery rate to vaccination. Therefore the perception has positively changed for both child immunisation and COVID-19,”

Reverend Mathias Tsine, Federation of Indigenous Churches in Zimbabwe

“Personally, I had fears, because growing up, we were of the belief that taking vaccines was getting the biblical mark of the Beast. I am happy that our church leaders who had not been tolerating immunisation are now encouraging us to take our children to clinics. This was changed by the education we got from various awareness campaigns,” said Shayanewako.

Reverend Mathias Tsine from the Federation of Indigenous Churches in Zimbabwe (FICZ), an ecumenical board responsible for regulating the affairs of indigenous churches, believes perceptions have changed on both routine immunisation and Covid-19.

“The government COVID-19 vaccination roll-out failed to get buy-in from churches across the board, not only Apostolic churches. This was as a result of the programme being sabotaged with biblical references pointing at the mark of the Beast – this was a pulpit message. Furthermore, there was widespread rhetoric and propaganda that the programme was meant to eliminate the surging global population, but particularly Africans.

“It is quite pleasing that we managed to educate our religious constituency on the importance of adhering to the government call, and a lot responded willingly, given that the roll-out wasn’t compulsory. Previously vaccinations were associated with myopic views and speculations as was witnessed with COVID-19 – although the eventual results proved critics wrong. Members from Apostolic churches are attributing the lower death rate and the higher recovery rate to vaccination. Therefore the perception has positively changed for both child immunisation and COVID-19,” said Tsine.

He added: “Our outreach programs emphasised adherence and as such, the uptake has increased tremendously with some churches migrating from the traditional norms of not accepting medications for themselves and their children. It is through this understanding that churches are experiencing a reduction in mortality rate and congregants celebrated God’s hand upon the end of lockdowns after having lost a few to the pandemic as compared to other societies, owing to heeding the call to vaccination.”Gavi.org

Lifestyle

Dawn Thandeka King to headline lmiklomelo KaDakamela festival in Nkayi

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The hills of Nkayi are set to come alive as preparations for the iMiklomelo kaDakamela Cultural Festival reach an advanced stage, with organizers confirming that acclaimed South African actress and musician Dawn Thandeka King will be the guest of honor.

The festival, which runs from 3 to 6 April, at the Chief’s homestead, promises a vibrant celebration of music, sport, and traditional experiences that aim to put the district on the global cultural map.

Organizers expressed their excitement over the arrival of the South African star, noting that “her presence brings star power, inspiration, and cultural pride to Nkayi.” The actress will be joined by other high-profile guests, including Gama Mbokane from Tanzania, Prince Wandile Ngobese, and Umntwana waseZibindini uThulani kaGqikazi kaSolomon.

Adding a feat of incredible endurance to the festivities, organizing committee member Dr Gasolo is currently preparing to walk 205km from Bulawayo to ko Dakamela to amplify the voices of local creatives. Dr Gasolo, who recently returned from Zambia where he was part of the “Walk Across Africa” team, will embark on this local trek before heading to Ethiopia later this year to rejoin the journey to Cairo, Egypt.

Festival coordinator Desmond Ntini confirmed to Southern Eye reporter, Margaret Lubinda that the packed programme includes campfire storytelling, traditional bush dinners, and a unique camping experience. “The chief will take centre stage as the guest storyteller,” Ntini said. The event will also feature the return of the popular Amahubo sessions and sporting events like the trademark Bosso social soccer match and the introduction of cricket, Emakhaya.

Beyond the entertainment, the festival serves a deeper purpose of community empowerment. Workshops will be held to teach villagers how to monetise waste, such as plastic bottles, alongside an empowerment workshop for local artists hosted in collaboration with the Isintu Festival.

This local initiative aligns with recent discussions in the National Assembly regarding the vital role of the tourism sector and heritage preservation. Lawmakers have noted that heritage preservation is a “crucial cog for maintaining the national identity, fostering cultural diversity, driving tourism growth and promoting economic development at large” Members of Parliament have further observed that cultural tourism is a “powerful driver of economic growth” that has the ability to “transform lives at the grassroots level,” particularly for women and youth .

However, the road to the festival has not been without its hurdles. Ntini noted that extending the festival’s duration has led to funding challenges. “Our main challenge centres on funding,” he said. “Large numbers of people from the koDakamela community attend, and they also need to be catered for. We are appealing for more support.”

Additional Source: Southern Eye.

In the community

Heavy rains worsen condition of Binga’s poor road network

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Communities in Binga are facing worsening road conditions after heavy rains damaged key routes, prompting urgent calls for rehabilitation and government intervention.

Binga South legislator Fanuel Cumanzala said several major roads in the district have been severely affected by incessant rains, disrupting transport and access to essential services.

He cited the Karoi-Binga Centre Road, Binga Centre-Cross Dete Road, Kariangwe-Lusulo Road, and Gwai-Lusulo Road as critical routes in need of urgent attention.

“The state of these roads is now a serious concern for our communities as they are no longer easily accessible,” Cumanzala said

“People are struggling to reach markets, health facilities and schools due to the damage caused by continuous rains.”

Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona said the Karoi-Binga Road, a 192-kilometre inter-provincial route linking Mashonaland West to Matabeleland North, has only 62 kilometres surfaced, with the remaining 130 kilometres gravel.

He said plans were underway to upgrade the gravel sections.

Mhona added that the Karoi-Binga-Cross Dete Road has been earmarked for rehabilitation under a Public-Private Partnership, with an investor’s expression of interest currently under consideration.

On the Kariangwe-Lusulo and Gwai-Lusulo roads, he said ongoing works are focused on repairing rain-damaged structures.

“Contractors working along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road have also been engaged to attend to nearby damaged structures,”Mhona said.

“As a ministry, we will continue assessing the situation and submit funding requests for full rehabilitation as a long-term solution.”

He noted that several roads in Binga District have outlived their lifespan and require urgent rehabilitation, adding that upgrading costs have been calculated and projects will be implemented gradually as funds become available.

In the meantime, he said the ministry will continue routine maintenance efforts such as re-gravelling and pothole patching in collaboration with local stakeholders.

“We are committed to improving the road network in Binga to enhance access to markets, healthcare and education facilities while ensuring long-term sustainability of the infrastructure,” Mhona said. Source: Southern Eye

In the community

Speaker proposes national hotline for flood-prone districts like Tsholotsho

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The National Assembly recently held an urgent debate on the state of national disaster preparedness, with lawmakers warning that the current lack of resources at the district level is costing lives

During the session, Clemence Chiduwa presented a somber report on a tragedy in Zaka South where two men died after being marooned for twelve hours following the capsizing of their boat . Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, he told the House, “The loss of life in Zaka South was not a local tragedy; it is a national warning as this is also happening in other districts”

Chiduwa argued that the failure of local units to respond quickly is a symptom of broader underfunding and lack of equipment, stating, “It reminds us that the disaster response delayed is disaster response denied”. He further observed that “institutions without tools cannot save lives,” calling for the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) to be adequately resourced with the machinery and financial support necessary for timely road and bridge rehabilitation.

Addressing these concerns, the Speaker of Parliament reminded the members that the state must utilize its existing resources, particularly the military’s air capabilities which have proven effective in the past.

The Speaker specifically highlighted previous successful interventions, noting, “The helicopters from the army are always ready to come in and they have done so in the past, especially during Cyclone Idai and also when there were floods in Tsholotsho”.

To improve response times in flood-prone areas across Matabeleland North, the Speaker proposed the implementation of a national emergency line. He suggested that “what we need to really push for is hotline availability to all districts, if not all wards, so that as soon as they experience that, they phone that hotline straight to headquarters and the army will react accordingly”. This initiative aims to ensure that communities like Tsholotsho can bypass local infrastructure failures and receive immediate military assistance during future flood events.