A History of Health and Psychiatry Services in Zimbabwe 1890-1980

Abstract

Colonialism and its associated practices of segregation and subjugation left a lasting impact on the lives of the Africans it aimed to ‘civilise’, despite its role in refining certain aspects of African innovation, particularly in healthcare and psychiatry. These practices influenced how Africans viewed mental health issues even after the end of colonial rule. Colonialism weaponised psychiatry and medicine, using them as systematic tools to undermine and replace African healthcare systems through the enforced adoption of Western culture and practices. Consequently, there is limited documentation on the evolution of medical and psychiatric practices in Zimbabwe from the colonial to the post-colonial era. In line with post-colonial discourse, this paper traces the origins of colonial health and psychiatric services noting how they were shaped by segregationist policies. It aims to demonstrate how medical and psychiatric care developed under colonial rule within a segregated government framework designed to diminish African innovation and purpose. The paper employs a qualitative desktop analysis, examining primary archival sources on the development of medical systems in Rhodesia, secondary sources, and one-on-one interviews with key figures in the fields of mental health and African medical practice. Results show that health and psychiatric services from Rhodesia to post-independent Zimbabwe experienced numerous changes and challenges, as two systems with a common goal – to save lives – competed, with one culture promoted over the other.