| Summary: | The study aimed to assess Shona religious aspects that promote resilience among people
suffering from chronic illnesses in Zimbabwe. The study adopted a qualitative approach and
exploratory design. Data were collected through face to face in-depth interviews from 11
people. Findings pointed to the fact that the Shona cosmology notes the centrality of vadzimu
in terms of life and death, good health and bad health and other vicissitudes of human life.
Shona traditional beliefs and practices such as belief in afterlife, exorcism of evil spirits,
traditional rituals, omnipresence of ancestors and many others were reported to strongly
promote resilience among sick people. There is therefore need to recognise indigenous beliefs
in social service delivery. Social workers should be culturally and spiritually competent for
effective practice with certain indigenous African populations.
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