Home Remedies as Agency in the Face of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Research questions: Why have Zimbabweans relied on home remedies during COVID-19? What are some of these remedies? How are they used? How are they received by the people comparative to medical and scientific approaches? Purpose of the study and methods used: Using narratives from below obtained from repeated conversations with 10 people as well as extensive social media observation spanning a year, this article explores Zimbabweans’ use of home remedies during COVID-19. Findings: It finds that home remedies (the most fashionable being steaming and Zumbani tea) are used simultaneously with western medicines. This is amid a hopeless health system, a ravaging and incurable pandemic, growing distrust of western institutions and vaccines, and the need to be mobile in daily livelihood activities performed in a distressed economy. These home practices are criticized by people demanding respect for the severity of COVID-19 who reproof “unscientific” grassroots practices, conversations, and conspiracies on the pandemic. Nevertheless, equally observable are daily testimonies of victory, healing, and hope. Conclusion: The study concludes that home remedies are used in Zimbabwe as a form of agency to respond to the uncertainty brought by COVID-19.