Prospects and Challenges for Traditional Leaders in Combating COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

The outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 disease caused by Coronavirus has drawn the attention of researchers and policy makers to interrogate the utility of institutions in combating the pandemic. This study adds to the emerging literature by elucidating the potential of traditional leaders in localizing the fight against Coronavirus in rural Zimbabwe. As custodians and enforcers of traditional customs and values, endogenous leaders are widely relied on and respected in rural communities such that their encouragements, orders and coercive means can positively combat the deadly virus. With the fear for punishment in the form of cursing or rather be ostracized, ruralites often listen and abides to traditional leaders’ calls and pleas to stay at home, practice personal hygiene and social distancing. Based on these cutting edge advantages, chiefs and their decentralized structures can be relied on in community mobilization, awareness raising, dispelling pandemic rumors and myths, vaccine utilization and in pushing for compromization of measures incompatible with local traditions and cultural values and norms. The article vouches for resourcing and capacitation of traditional leaders to effectively realize their capacities in combating COVID-19 in rural areas.

Keywords: Combat, Traditional leaders, coronavirus, rural areas, Social distancing, Education