1. While most MDC Alliance supporters were excited by the findings of @afrobarometer showing the marginal presence of MDC-T, they shouldn’t ignore the less palatable findings. For example, perceptions of how the government has handled the pandemic shouldn’t be underestimated.
2. Afrobarometer found that 81% agreed with the lockdown measures. This may confound some people but remember this survey considered lockdowns last year when most of the world was unsure and scared of the new virus. 81% felt the government had done well in the circumstances. 
3. The findings also show that more people were tolerant of the restrictions of democratic rights and freedoms. Again this may be explained by the fear of what seemed to be an existential threat to the nation & humanity. But the regime has & may continue to exploit this tolerance
4. The problem for the opposition is that citizens may habituate to these restrictions of rights & freedoms. Governments are very happy to limit freedoms & if people adjust to the abnormal caused by the pandemic, the restrictions will become a permanent feature.
5. The government faces 2 problems: first, to convince people to get vaccinated. This is problematic because the survey showed that most people are skeptic all about the safety of vaccines. So far its voluntary but will the government use command & what will be the impact?
6. The 2nd is self-inflicted: corruption. The survey showed that more people think that resources meant to fight COVID-19 were looted by corrupt politicians. This falls into the wider vice that has afflicted this regime which has earned a reputation of corruption
7. Unfortunately the survey did not enquire into public attitudes about the opposition and its response to the pandemic. The pandemic has been hard for opposition parties. They could not be seen opposing lockdowns when there was an existential threat.
8. But some opposition parties have been creative and have found a rich seam where ruling parties have bungled their handling of the pandemic, the cronyism & corruption, & generally holding government to account. The Zimbabwean opposition could draw lessons from that.
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