ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how Shona religion and practices promoted or prohibited vaccine willingness among the Shona people of Buhera South in Zimbabwe. The Shona people, just like any society, have their beliefs, norms, values and practices which they steadfastly uphold. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and the vaccination programme meant to curb the spread of this pandemic, these belief systems and practices have been put under scrutiny. Utilising a qualitative research design where interviews and observation methods were used to collect the views, practices and experiences of Buhera South Shona people, the study revealed that certain Shona religious beliefs and norms among the Shona gender dynamics increased vaccine hesitancy as they refrain from participating in the vaccination programme advocated by the government for COVID-19. The chapter uses postcolonial theory as its lens in unpacking the Shona religious beliefs, gender dynamics, norms and values which are at the core of the Shona culture. The research concluded that although gender, certain norms and values among the Shona of Buhera South enhance vaccine acceptance, there are some which increase vaccine hesitancy.
