HARARE, Zimbabwe — A second wave of COVID-19 infections is leaving a trail of deaths and despair in many African countries with little relief in sight. Many governments have once again banned religious gatherings and religious ceremonies at funerals.

Still, faith leaders have remained front and center in both spreading awareness of COVID-19 safety, cooperating with lockdown rules, helping people remain hopeful and increasing trust in vaccines expected to arrive later this year. But some religious leaders, particularly some Pentecostal Christians, are spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation about the vaccine.

According to the Africa CDC report on Jan. 14, COVID-19 infections across the continent rose to 3.1 million while deaths rose to 75,709. About 2.5 million people have recovered, but those recoveries are declining in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the hardest hit by the current wave of infections. 

In South Africa, which has announced new movement restrictions that include closure of borders and halting of processing for national registrations, the recovery rate from COVID-19 has fallen to 80% in the new year. In neighboring Zimbabwe, the recovery rate is now below 60%. Experts say this paints a darker picture of more deaths coming. Malawi has also been hard hit.

“With the way things are now, there is nowhere we can turn to apart from Allah,” Malawi’s Sheikh Chabulika told the media.

Most of the new coronavirus cases in African countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa are local transmissions as opposed to the first wave of imported cases from regional and international countries.

“We will continue our discussions with religious leaders on how best to safely meet the desire of many our people to worship in congregation while working together to preserve life,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa while addressing the country Jan. 11. 

Religion’s role in vaccine trust and skepticism

There are some Christians, especially Pentecostal movements, spreading misinformation that the vaccine is the biblical mark of the beast and advocating against a vaccine roll out.

South African anti-vaxxer Nosi Phiwe wrote on Twitter: “God's children better not be manipulated to take vaccines. We are the church that believes in the word of God not vaccines.”

Such campaigns and mindsets against COVID-19 vaccines are worrying medical experts in Africa.  

“My greatest concern is not that there will be a lapse in vaccination once we begin on the continent - the pipeline for vaccines will ease over time,” said John Nkengasong, Africa CDC director. “The major issue is getting started. Community engagement is incredibly critical for the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa.”

The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa said Jan. 12 that “there is currently a lot of uncertainty about the possible vaccines available to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” especially in the African context. “Many people are anxious, confused and fearful, mainly due to a number of conspiracy theories that are circulated by people who are neither qualified Scientists nor Theologians. These conspiracy theories, which are presented as Bible based and normative, can cause great damage to uninformed and susceptible believers who take scriptural quotations at face value.” 

The conspiracy theories are circulating on social media and worsening the second wave of infections by encouraging people to disbelieve the gravity of the pandemic and abandon precautions.

In Zimbabwe, however, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) is taking a proactive role, ensuring that religious communities who share buildings take safety measures.

“As religious [people] we share most things which may expose us to COVID-19,” said ZCBC Health Coordinator, Sr. Justina Kapita. “So, we need to be very careful about the things that we use in common.”

Although dioceses are now carrying out Mass via social media across Africa, the risks are being highlighted for religious communities. Some of them interact with congregants during funerals that have been restricted to less than 30 people in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

As infections and deaths from COVID-19 gallop, Father Chiedza Chimhanda, the Conference for Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) President, is urging religious communities to suspend communal activities that expose their members to COVID-19 infection. That’s particularly difficult for some because many people lack access to fast internet, which can be expensive.

“The way to go is to create spaces for isolation for those who test positive. Also suspend communal activities where possible. The virus is very bad and it’s going to ground the church for a bit,” said Fr. Chimhanda SJ.

Tawanda Karombo is a Zimbabwe-based journalist covering development, religion, business and finance across Southern Africa. He has more than 10 years experience covering the region for local and international publications, including National Catholic Reporter and America Magazine. Follow him on Twitter @tawakarombo.