Trends and Dynamics of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Implications for Selected Sustainable Development Goals

This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends and dynamics of COVID-19 to understand their implications on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Zimbabwe. Data on daily cases and mortality rates of COVID-19 were collected from the Worldometer website, whilst data on lockdown measures and travel restrictions were collected from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were employed on statistical data. COVID-19 statistical data were first tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Subsequently, the non-parametric Mann-Kendal (M-K) test was performed to determine the monthly average number of new cases and deaths trend from March 2020 to February 2022 using XLSTAT (2020). The study shows a significant increase (p = 0.00, α= 0.05) in COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and February 2022. The trend is characterised by sharp increases associated with wave periods. Although the results show no correlation between stringency index and COVID-19 cases, periods of high stringency are associated with a slightly lower number of cases. The spatial trends show that highly populated areas have high numbers of patient cases. Indeed, the lockdown measures put in place, among other factors, contributed to controlling the spread of the virus. The trends and dynamics of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe have implications for achieving SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3 and SDG 6. Thus, there is a need to factor in the temporal and spatial realities of COVID-19 in making a policy framework for effective control of the pandemic and promotion of sustainable development. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 Plus: Addressing Food Security (SDG 2) and Malnutrition Within a Web of Disasters in the SADC Region

Despite the progress made to attain the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: zero hunger in other regions of the world, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation notes that Asia and Africa are still lagging in this regard. The advent of COVID-19 is exacerbating the situation. This study examines how the impact of natural disasters compounded by COVID-19 (COVID-19 plus) affected the state of food security and nutritional status of the populace in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the consequences of these on development. The study used secondary and archival data from field assessments conducted by SADC member countries and other critical secondary data sources. The study found that extreme weather patterns, such as droughts, flooding and intense rainfall, coupled with sociopolitical instability and the outbreak of COVID-19 would further limit the region's ability to meet targets set under SDG 2 (zero hunger) and other SDG targets it has synergies with, particularly those related to health (SDG3). Increased food insecurity is a threat to the health, social and economic well-being of the region's population, with detrimental implications for the present and future security of the region. The study calls for support, such as extended social safety net programmes to deal with food insecurity challenges in the short to medium term, if the situation is to be harnessed from further deterioration. There is also a need to put in place measures to address increasing poverty and inequality meted on the populations by COVID-19 induced lockdowns. Such interventions must be sensitive to gender and prioritise the needs of the youth population. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 and Its Implications on Agriculture, Environment, and Water Sectors

The advent of COVID-19 had implications for various sectors of the economy, compounding the challenges set in motion by climate change. Whilst the dawn of 2021 came with hope for recovery from the pandemic, the beginning of 2022 came with another complexity of the Russia-Ukraine war, which hampered recovery efforts. This book examines the trends, dynamics, and implications of COVID-19 for agriculture, environment, and water sectors within the broader context of Sustainable Development Goals using a cocktail of primary and secondary research techniques. The book adopts the quantitative, qualitative, and multi-methods of enquiry. Findings show the increasing temporal trend of COVID-19 cases following periodic waves and spatially variable distribution of cases, with more cases in densely populated urban areas. These trends and dynamics, influenced by a web of intermingling factors, have had ramifications on the agricultural, environmental, and water sectors and subsectors with consequent negative outcomes on virtually all facets of life. The recovery process is being hampered by several factors ranging from poor governance, which results in policy distortions and other global factors. Climate change and the Russia- Ukraine war have complicated the COVID-19 recovery process by pushing up oil and food prices, rendering the poor more vulnerable to food insecurity and increased poverty, challenging Zimbabwe's economic resilience. Social safety nets and tackling climate change and other policy distortions are critical to ensure a sustainable future. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 Infodemic and Misinformation: A Global Review and Implications for Zimbabwe

The advent and rapid spread of the coronavirus resulted in the need and demand for timely and reliable information about the contagion. The absence of such information led to a massive COVID-19 infodemic paddled on different forms of media. Myths, conspiracies, rumours and misinformation about the disease rapidly spread across the globe causing panic, anxiety, racism and sometimes false hope. The chapter examines the different sources of COVID-19 misinformation that led to the infodemic and then analyses the implications of the infodemic on Zimbabwe. The chapter uses secondary data in the form of available documents and reports on COVID-19 misinformation. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The results show that COVID-19 infodemic is one of the factors that have prolonged and intensified the pandemic. This is because there was an overabundance of false information, especially on social media platforms, which made it difficult for affected people to get reliable guidance when they needed it. Zimbabwe, like most African countries, has been equally impacted because there is limited capacity to counter health misinformation. There are no specific indicators permitting the monitoring of misinformation and its impact. There is therefore a need for different stakeholders in the country to partner in the development of robust infodemic management strategies and/or policies. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Conclusions and Policy Recommendations: The Emerging COVID-19 Trends, Dynamics and Implications

This chapter presents the key findings from the book and outlines the key policy interventions recommended. Issues examined in the book include the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural production, food systems, nutrition, informality, water, education, sanitation and livelihoods. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) framework was used in the analysis of impacts. The findings show that the pandemic had mostly negative impacts on the systems studied and the most vulnerable members of society got the biggest knock on their livelihoods especially those in the informal sector. Access to key resources like water, municipal services and food was not equal, and the gap in deprivation widened during this period. Post COVID-19 recovery needs to be guided by how well it addresses progress towards SDG indicators. Government stimulus packages for recovery need to consider increasing social safety nets and the most vulnerable members of society. There is a need to support local food systems and vulnerable livelihoods to build back better and become resilient to future shocks that are similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities need to improve their communication with communities during disaster periods and strengthen their resilience. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Trends, Dynamics and Implications in the Agricultural, Environmental and Water Sectors

This contributed volume, based on papers presented at a conference held in Zimbabwe in mid-2021, interrogates solutions to COVID-19-related problems and issues across agricultural, environmental and water sectors in Zimbabwe and assesses their scientific, economic and practical validity. Across 19 chapters, this volume unpacks the science, economics and politics of the pandemic with a focus on understanding its secondary and tertiary impact on Zimbabwe's population. The volume is also dedicated to understanding the practical and policy-oriented approaches in tackling the pandemic and confronting the "new normal” of COVID-19. It brings together researchers, development practitioners and policy makers from various disciplines in an endeavour to understand COVID-19 trends and analyse the scientific options for mitigation, containment, innovation and ultimately pre-empt the possible emergence and impacts of other pandemics in the future. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

COVID-19 and the global cruise ship industry: Potential recovery and reformation pathways

Th e cruise ship industry was one of the fastest growing subsectors of the tourism industry before the advent of COVID-19. Th is paper examines the prospects and recovery of the cruise ship industry from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the industry. Th e study relied mostly on event study and secondary data, including survey data from authoritative sources, data from representative organisations, news reports and academic literature. Th e results show that the industry exhibited high levels of customer loyalty and resilience to the COVID-19-induced downturn. Th e industry also adopted additional protocols to improve public health on board and protect the health and safety of customers, crews and visited communities. However, continued travel restrictions at both source and destination markets, as well as the continued resurgence of the virus and related uncertainties, threaten the recovery of the industry. Mandatory vaccination of both crew and passengers needs to be considered. © 2022 Sciendo. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 cripples global restaurant and hospitality industry

The restaurant and hospitality industries are crucial socio-economic sectors that contribute immensely to the global economy. However, these sectors are vulnerable and sensitive to natural hazards such as the COVID-19 pandemic and any resultant economic downturns. This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the global restaurant industry using data from OpenTable and other sources. The study found that sit-in guests dropped to zero in many countries as governments across the world instituted social distancing initiatives, movement restrictions and lockdowns. COVID-19 also led to an unprecedented loss of employment and revenue, resulting in millions of jobs and billions of dollars in potential revenue lost. The work recommends extra-ordinary financial and other support measures for the sector. It further recommends a raft of safety and health protocols as the industry gradually reopens.