Civil ‘disobedience’ and images of war: The military and police in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Following the detection of the first Covid-19 cases in early 2020, the Zimbabwe government, like other countries, implemented response strategies to manage the unfolding pandemic. This was mostly through lockdowns, closure of borders, and promulgation of health protocols. An important component of this response framework was the outright deployment of the police force, and armed military personnel to enforce strict civil compliance with the lockdowns, curfews, business operations and health guidelines. This resulted in the heavy presence of the police, and soldiers, in public spaces to deal with civil ‘disobedience’. This engagement further culminated in reports of alleged human rights violations and shrinking the democratic space while also portraying ‘images of war’. Citizens responded to the ‘war’ through a web of strategies that included outright defiant actions like demonstrations, unauthorised movements and unsanctioned business operations. Reports of bribery, extortion, and other corrupt acts, permeated the interface between the law enforcement agencies and the general public. What was termed ‘disobedience’ by law enforcement agencies in the face of the pandemic were actually survival strategies by the people in the ‘new normal’ period which threatened their sources of livelihood, and freedom. Even in the face of severe restrictions, citizens ‘somehow’ found their way into the cities, vending positions or getting to their intended travelling destinations, and playing a ‘cat and mouse game’ with the police and soldiers.