ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating consequences challenged governments the world over to institute control measures, one of which was vaccination. The Government of Zimbabwe was no exception, as it embarked on a vaccine rollout programme. The vaccine rollout and uptake have been a contested terrain. Against this backdrop, this qualitative study1 sought to establish the lived realities of some members of African Initiated Churches (AICs) and traditional healers in terms of their vaccine uptake and attitudes towards the same. The chapter addresses this through an analysis that draws experience from Masvingo and Bikita Districts of Zimbabwe. Using data from purposively sampled key informant interviews and focus group discussions, it emerged that there was both vaccine acceptance and hesitancy that was influenced by government mandates, conspiracy theories, religious or traditional leaders, as well as husbands (for some women), who exerted power over them. The chapter concludes that power dynamics between players were a key variable in the ultimate decision and action towards vaccination.
