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

Emmanuel Ndhlovu; David Mhlanga

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

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

Emmanuel Ndhlovu
, David Mhlanga

School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy

Vaal University of Technology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development
Publisher	Springer Nature
Pages	365-385
Number of pages	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30541-2_20
Publication status	Published - 2023

Publication series

Name	Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development
Volume	Part F1047
ISSN (Print)	2198-7262
ISSN (Electronic)	2198-7270

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Biopolitics
COVID-19
Lockdown
Sustainable development goals
ZANU-PF
Zimbabwe

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Development
Sociology and Political Science
General Economics,Econometrics and Finance

Access to Document

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

Cite this

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abstract = "This chapter explores the politicization of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the associated response mechanisms in Zimbabwe. Underpinned by Foucault{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}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",

author = "Emmanuel Ndhlovu and David Mhlanga",

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The Politicization of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe and Implications on the Attainment of the SDGs. / Ndhlovu, Emmanuel; Mhlanga, David.
Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. Springer Nature, 2023. p. 365-385 (Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development; Vol. Part F1047).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - The Politicization of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe and Implications on the Attainment of the SDGs

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AU - Mhlanga, David

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Biopolitics

KW - COVID-19

KW - Lockdown

KW - Sustainable development goals

KW - ZANU-PF

KW - Zimbabwe

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T3 - Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development

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PB - Springer Nature

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

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this