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Why rural people are still sceptical about Covid-19 vaccines

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Nearly two years after Zimbabwe introduced its Covid-19 vaccination programme, some people in rural parts of Hwange district in Matabeleland North are still sceptical about the safety of the vaccines.

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Zimbabwe first rolled out Covid-19 vaccines early last year with the country relying mostly on Chinese made vaccines to bring the pandemic that paralysed the economy under control.

Hwange district, where Victoria Falls is located, was one of the areas that were prioritised by the government in the vaccination blitz as it sought to have tourist resorts re-opened for tourists.

As a result Hwange has the highest Covid-19 vaccination coverage at 80 percent of the population, but three community listening sessions organised by VicFallsLive in the largely rural Hwange West constituency showed that some villagers are still sceptical about the vaccines, largely because of misinformation.

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Community leaders said the government did little to counter the misinformation, which is largely blamed on social media and this fuelled vaccination hesitancy.

Hwange villagers, like other people in many parts of Zimbabwe, were victims of misinformation about the vaccines, including allegations that those who got the Covid-19 vaccine will turn into baboons or that the vaccines were part of a scheme to reduce Africa’s population.

Given Moyo, the ward three councillor told VicFallsLive  that most people in his area only got vaccinated after they were told that those who were unvaccinated  would be barred from using public transport or excluded from government aid programmes.

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“Authorities did not bring enough awareness campaigns to rural people on the pandemic and even after the vaccines were found,” Moyo said.

“It was at a time when people were being threatened that they will be barred from accessing public services and during that time, only government run buses were allowed to operate.

“Only those with vaccination cards were allowed into the Zupco buses.

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“What complicated the situation was that this was the time when myths about Covid-19 vaccines were spreading and people were being told that if they got vaccinated they were going to turn into baboons’ years later.

“Some said those who got vaccinated will start speaking Chinese languages and give birth to Chinese children.

“We were also told that the vaccines carried an electronic chip that would track and monitor the people.

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“People got confused as they were being denied access to public services.

“So they ended up getting vaccinated so as to access shops, banks, and public transport, not that they were convinced that the vaccines were safe.”

Chief Mvuthu village chairperson Paulos Ntini said misinformation became the biggest hindrance to the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

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Ntini said the situation was made worse by the fact that the government had no deliberate strategy to counter the misinformation, which targeted the rural population.

Most parts of Hwange have no access to both the broadcast and print media, which the government relied on to share messages about  the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Community leaders and villagers said some of the dominant myths about Covid-19 vaccines were that they caused infertility and impotence.

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“It meant that both men and women were going to lose their sexual appetite,” said BH26 vllage head Jerita Ncube on some of the myths about Covid-19 vaccines.

BH27 village head Tymon Sibanda concurred, adding that: “Some homes were destroyed because people were practicing social distance even in bedrooms.

“We heard that vaccines kill sexual appetite and  pregnant women were going to have miscarriages while those who were menstruating were going to bleed non-stop.”

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The villagers said scarcity of information from formal channels forced them to rely on social media, which was the major source of misinformation.

“We had a number of local students at Ndlovu Secondary School, who tested positive for Covid-19, but we never saw any government health workers making a follow-up on the case,” said a villager.

“No one came to teach us the elderly on how to nurse those with Covid-19 without getting infected.

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“So all these misinformation problems emanated from such neglect.”

Another youthful villager added: “We relied on traditional herbs such as umtshibi whenever our bodies signalled anything related to Covid-19, but no one told us whether that worked or not.

“It was said that Covid-19 was deadly and such herbs treated it as well as garlic.”

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Councilor Moyo said whenever he developed Covid-like symptoms, he would drink hot water ‘even though it harmed our throats and was painful to drink’ because they were told it would kill the virus.

Other villagers said they were forced to leave their jobs as they feared contracting Covid-19, which they were told was a ploy to wipe out the African population.

“We were divided even in churches because at some point  vaccination cards were required for people to attend church services,” said Flora Ndlovu, an aide to Chief Mvuthu.

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“It was a struggle because after getting vaccinated we were branded Satanists because of the vaccine marks.”

Isaac Ntuli, a sports leader in the Chief Mvuthu area added: “In our battle with the devil as Christians, Covid-19 vaccines became a test (of our faith).

“We were confused because vaccines became associated with Satanism and we were told that accepting the vaccines was an evil dedication.

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“The fact that the government was coercing people to take the vaccines by threatening to bar them from accessing public services fuelled the myths about Satanism.

“We were also told that this disease was introduced by powerful countries such as China to wipe out Africans as they sought to loot gold and other natural resources without any resistance.”

Sibanda said the Covid-19 pandemic also  fuelled corruption even among health workers.

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“We saw some people being given Covid-19 certificates with a negative result  even after testing positive to the virus after paying a bribe,” he added.

“Even those that would go to Victoria Falls Hospital to get tested so that they can travel to Zambia on medical grounds, they would be told they tested positive until they paid bribes of between US$5 to US$15 for their results to be changed to negative.”

 

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National

Migration on the rise: Matabeleland North tops outbound movement in latest ZimLAC report

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINK

Matabeleland North has recorded some of the highest levels of migration in Zimbabwe, with 12.6% of households moving to urban areas and 7.8% leaving the country, according to the 2024–2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) report.

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The figures highlight a growing trend in which families are uprooting in search of work, education, and better living conditions, with the province’s migration rate well above the national averages of 9.9% for rural-to-urban moves and 5.0% for emigration.

For many in Matabeleland North, economic necessity drives these decisions.

“I had to send my son to Bulawayo because there was simply no work here,” said Thabani Ncube, a smallholder farmer in Lupane. “Even piece jobs have dried up. At least in town, he can hustle and maybe support the family.”

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The ZimLAC report shows that employment opportunities are the leading reason behind rural-to-urban migration nationally (6.3%). In Matabeleland North, 7.7% cited education as the next big pull factor, followed by new residential land and improved living standards.

Experts warn that while migration can bring relief through remittances, it also risks hollowing out rural communities.

“This trend is a double-edged sword,” explained Dr. Nomalanga Sibanda, a livelihoods researcher in Bulawayo. “Families may benefit from remittances, but local economies lose critical labour and skills. Over time, this weakens resilience in rural districts.”

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Other Provinces: Contrasting Patterns

Matabeleland South recorded the highest rate of emigration, with 13.5% of households reporting that members had left the country — nearly triple the national average. Masvingo followed closely, with 16.5% moving to towns and 7.7% leaving for the diaspora.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland Central had the lowest levels of outward movement, with just 4.4% moving to towns and 1.0% emigrating.

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Midlands also stood out, with 12.9% shifting to urban areas and 6.2% relocating abroad, driven mainly by job opportunities and schooling.

National Picture

Across Zimbabwe, nearly one in ten households (9.9%) reported rural-to-urban migration, while 5% indicated emigration outside the country. Employment, education, and improved living standards remain the strongest motivators.

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For ordinary families, the story is about survival and hope.

“My husband left for South Africa last year,” said Memory Dube of Gwanda, Matabeleland South. “He sends money when he can, but life is tough there too. Still, we rely on that income to buy food and pay school fees.”

ZimLAC, which advises the government through the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), says the data will guide evidence-based interventions. The report stresses that migration trends are not just statistics, but reflect deeper issues of economic opportunity, resilience, and service delivery across provinces.

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Matabeleland North tops in open defecation as sanitation gaps persist

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The latest 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) has revealed that Matabeleland North province has the highest proportion of households practising open defecation in the country, underscoring deep-rooted poverty and infrastructure challenges in rural communities.

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According to the report, Binga district leads with a staggering 80.1% of households without toilets, followed by Tsholotsho at 56.5%. Kariba (50.8%) and Mwenezi (49.4%) also recorded alarming levels of open defecation.

Nationally, there has been modest progress. The proportion of households with basic sanitation services increased slightly from 51% in 2020 to 55% in 2025. At the same time, open defecation declined from 29% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.

While these statistics point to progress at a national level, the reality in provinces like Matabeleland North paints a starkly different picture. Communities continue to struggle with extreme poverty, limited resources, and inadequate support to build or maintain proper sanitation facilities.

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ZimLAC noted that the findings are critical for shaping livelihoods policies and targeting interventions where they are most needed. The report emphasized that tackling inequalities in rural sanitation remains central to advancing Zimbabwe’s development goals.

Community Voices: Life Without Toilets in Matabeleland North

In Binga, where most households lack toilets, villagers say poverty is at the heart of the crisis:

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“We want toilets, but we cannot afford cement or bricks,” said 64-year-old grandmother from Sidinda. “Even when NGOs come, they only build for a few households. The rest of us dig shallow pits which collapse in the rains. That’s why many people just go to the bush.”

In Tsholotsho, young people express frustration over promises that never materialize:

“We were told about sanitation projects, but they stopped halfway. People survive by selling firewood; where will they get money for toilets?” asked Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, a 22-year-old.

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For families living along the Zambezi in Binga, land conditions add another challenge:

“The soil is sandy and unstable. Even if we dig, the pit does not last long. Poverty makes it worse, because we cannot reinforce the toilets like people in towns,”another villager explained.

In Nkayi, the harsh climate compounds the problem:

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“We focus on finding food and water first. A toilet is a luxury for many families here,” said Joseph Moyo, a farmer battling drought conditions.

Despite the struggles, communities across Matabeleland North expressed a strong desire for better sanitation, linking the lack of toilets to health risks, dignity, and children’s wellbeing.

As ZimLAC’s findings show, progress is possible — but without targeted support in the hardest-hit areas, open defecation will remain entrenched in Zimbabwe’s rural poverty landscape.

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Zimbabwe selected for groundbreaking HIV prevention initiative

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe has announced an exciting development in the fight against HIV: Zimbabwe has been selected as one of the ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a breakthrough in HIV prevention.

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“Yes Zimbabwe, it’s happening!” the embassy declared, highlighting the significance of this initiative.

“For decades, we’ve fought to turn the tide against this epidemic, and each day we get closer,” the statement continued. This new treatment represents a pivotal moment in HIV prevention efforts, as it is the first twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine.

The implementation of lenacapavir is made possible through a partnership with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund. A key finding from a large-scale clinical trial shows that more than 99% of people on lenacapavir remained HIV negative. While this has the potential to save millions of lives, the Embassy emphasized that for Zimbabwe, it represents a major step toward ending new infections.

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“But this is more than medicine—it advances us on a pathway to a safer, stronger, and healthier future!” noted the embassy’s announcement.

The initiative particularly focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women, aiming to protect the next generation. It will also work toward strengthening healthcare systems, empowering Zimbabwe to lead its own fight against HIV. Moreover, the goal of making lenacapavir more affordable and accessible ensures that no one is left behind.

The embassy highlighted, “This is American leadership at its best: driving innovation, and building a world where children, mothers, and communities can thrive.”

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As this initiative rolls out, the message is clear: “Together, we’re not just fighting HIV—we’re winning.”

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