The novel coronavirus was first reported as a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China on 31 December 2019. Since then, the virus, and COVID -19, the disease that it causes, has spread fast across the globe, including Zimbabwe.

This Policy Brief presents a preliminary assessment of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID -19 on Zimbabwe on the basis of some known and observable facts as opposed to a detailed and robust analysis. It identifies the possible impact transmission channels based on the structure of Zimbabwean economy, it’s geography and socio-political factors; the possible effects on Zimbabwean socio-economic development; and proffers some policy recommendations.