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The Coronavirus Diaries: Untold Sufferings

The Coronavirus Diaries: Untold Sufferings

Wednesday July 14 2021

The Rev Maxwell Kapachawo from Zimbabwe writes that the virus has been hard for the nation, and for his family.


The national lockdown imposed by the Zimbabwean government in March 2020 brought quite a number of challenges and problems to families, communities and religious groups. The nation came to a total halt as the authorities tried to prevent the spread of the virus. No-one was spared as all gatherings including church services were banned.

To someone like me whose main work is within the community and church, I really felt the ups and downs of the effects of the virus. As people were not allowed to gather for any activity but to stay at home it was not easy at all. After the first three weeks, as announced by the authorities, we thought it would over and we return to our normal lives, but alas this continued until February 2021 when schools and other gatherings were allowed to start operations. As a family the journey was not easy even until now, we are still trying to pick up the pieces and move forward.

It’s over a year now in this situation and honestly, we have been struggling left, right and centre as all means and sources of income have totally collapsed. In times when things were good, I could cope well and fend for the family somehow, unlike now when affording three meals has become a dream.

As a religious leader who also has a community within, the people would come to me expecting something tangible besides the spiritual food. So heart breaking and painful when the elderly cry loud to you when you do home visits. Coronavirus has brought much suffering to an already poverty-burdened people. Each day I am on my knees crying out loud to the Almighty for this situation to normalise. Hunger has been the order of the day as a family. Children have to be in school but it’s not possible on empty stomachs.

Our communities have now witnessed a high rate of child abuse, teenage pregnancies, drug usage by the youths and child labour, as most children are turned into vending for survival. Communities have lost parents, brothers and sisters to coronavirus. Traditionally during funerals we gather in our numbers but currently this is not possible.

I thank the God of mercies for sparing us as a family until now, not that we are clever but by His mercies, He has taken us this far. Until now raising monies to pay up rent and other bills has not been easy at all. Winter is with us and so painful with this cold with less warm clothing. 

Our health delivery system is not coping with the people in need of services. There is not much being offered by the hospitals.  Coronavirus has brought untold sufferings as the majority of us cry in silence. ‘Cry, the beloved country Zimbabwe’ and we keep lifting our eyes to the mountains for God’s mercies. 


The Rev Maxwell Kapachawo is Co-ordinator of the MF Foundation in Zimbabwe and was a Christian Aid / Faithshare Visitor to Scotland in 2006.


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The Coronavirus Diaries: reflections from Church of Scotland partners around the world

A Deep and Inconsolable Loss: Tribute to Phumzile Mabizela
Malawi: This Was Very Real
Sri Lanka: Daily Numbers are Shocking
Jerusalem: Virtual Prisoners
Bangladesh: We Will Survive by the Grace of God
Nepal: Exhausting and Often Heartbreaking
Malawi: God Has Been Faithful to Us
France: Thankful For What I Have
India: Love Your Neighbours
A Nigerian in Scotland: Alone But Not Lonely
Taiwan: When We Work Together, We Achieve the Best Results
Hungary: We Mourn Each Loss
Zambia: Preparing for the Vaccine, and a Third Wave
World Communion of Reformed Churches: The 'Covid and Beyond' Church
Pakistan: Passing the Light
Lebanon: The Lord Will Not Forsake Us
South Korea: 'It is Time For Christians to Hear the Marginalised'
Cuba: Keep Moving On
Canada: Cracks Have Been Exposed
Kenya: Leave No Child Behind
USA: Homes of Prayer
Mozambique: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
A Spaniard in Scotland: The Power of Movement
South Sudan: Being Positive
A Nigerian in Scotland: God is in Charge
Trinidad and Tobago: New Frontiers
Czech Republic: A Challenge for Everybody
Switzerland: An Outpouring of Solidarity and Creativity
The West Bank: A Landscape of Broken Dreams
Nepal: So Many Premature Goodbyes
Malawi: We Must Hold Each Other Close
Nigeria: A Fresh Spiritual Connectedness
Egypt: 'This Is A Time To Witness God'
Guyana: The Strength of our Connectedness
South Korea: A Harsh Reality
Zimbabwe: Convenience or a Wake-up Call?
Sri Lanka: Service is the Highest Form of Worship
USA: Testing Positive
Portugal: The Mission of the Church Has Not Changed
World Council of Churches: A New Dawn is Upon us
Hungary: Physically Distant but Close in Spirit
A German in Scotland: Something New Has Already Begun
Myanmar: We Will Overcome this Hardship
Ghana: This Too Shall Pass
Brazil: The Least We Can Do
Kenya: Caring for One Another in Christ
An Indian in Germany: A Time of Enrichment
Argentina: Time in Between
Malawi: 'My identity in Christ remains unchanged'
Jerusalem: Being Rather than Doing
Malawi: No Lockdown and an Election
Zambia: 'I will never leave you... or forsake you'
Czech Republic: The Covid Cover-up
Zambia: 'All Life is Sacred'
Israel/Palestine: 'The Air is Clear'
Nepal: 'Please Pray for Us'
Malawi: Tough Dilemmas
Italy: 'Together, We Will Get Through It'