Abstract 

This study focused on examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on MSMEs’ businesses in Harare CBD and exploring the coping measures employed by the MSME sector for business survival. The MSME sector in Zimbabwe and the world at large was the hardest hit by COVID-19 as lockdown restrictions imposed affected small players in business. The study employed mixed methodology using the instrument of a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 50 participants from five MSMEs in Harare CBD. Pearson correlation was used to examine the association between variables. The findings of this study confirmed the significant impact of COVID-19 on MSME businesses in Harare CBD. These early-stage effects and losses to medium to small business activity have important implications for policy, business revenue, and future business performance and GDP. One of the policy implications of this study is the need to address business strategies and Government interventions which can help to cushion the effect of the pandemics on the MSMEs. 

Key Words: COVID-19, lockdown measures, shocks, coping mechanisms, MSMEs, remote work.