The coronavirus pandemic and persons with disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant challenges for all people in various parts of the world and has exposed just how vulnerable our communities are. Most persons with various disabilities have undoubtedly become a more vulnerable group within a vulnerable population since they are already excluded and wallow in poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in southern African countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Generally, navigating many community and institutional barriers is a challenge for persons with disabilities in normal times. These include aspects such as: a physical environment that is inaccessible, communication barriers, and attitudinal barriers, including negative and discriminatory perspectives on disability. In the context of a pandemic, these barriers become even more complex and heightened. Essentially, it is clear that this pandemic is negatively impacting on the health and economic well-being of persons with disabilities in the Southern African context. As such, there is need for a more comprehensive and inclusive response from the Church in partnership with other stakeholders if the retrogressive impact of this pandemic is to be minimised, especially in the context of disability. The Church in Southern Africa should take appropriate action to guard against the further marginalisation and stigmatisation of persons with disabilities during and especially after this pandemic through a liberative reading of the Bible. This chapter therefore assesses the potential risks for persons with disabilities during the period of the pandemic and articulates the measures that the Church in collaboration with other stakeholders can put in place to mitigate processes that may further marginalise persons with disabilities from the mainstream structures of society and expose them to poverty. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Fortune Sibanda, Tenson Muyambo and Ezra Chitando;individual chapters, the contributors.