The struggle for social work professional identity in contemporary Zimbabwe: A study on abuse of the social work title

Abstract

This study explores one of the key factors influencing the struggle for social work professional identity, enunciating the impact of the effectiveness of the Council of Social Workers of Zimbabwe (CSW) in regulation of social work. This article, as such, focuses on abuse of the social work title in Zimbabwe’s government departments. It examines how non-social workers abuse the title, together with related effects and possible interventions. The researchers used a qualitative approach and employed a phenomenological design. Participants were recruited through snowballing and the researchers reached data saturation after 17 semi-structured telephone interviews. The collected data were analysed through thematic analysis. Findings of the study reflect that government departments employ non-social workers as medical social workers and probation officers, and this generally affects proper service delivery and the social work profession in particular. The study further established that the CSW has to ensure the recruitment of qualified social workers and rigorous monitoring of – and improved collaboration with – government departments. The researchers then suggested that if the CSW is to make future changes in protecting the social work profession in Zimbabwe, it should, inter alia, review its current legislative framework and draw lessons of best practices from other countries.

Towards the Creation of a Developmental Welfare State in Zimbabwe: An Inside Perspective on the Department of Social Development

“…There is no question that the institutional capacity development of the DSD has been weak over the years as a result of the poor remuneration of SDOs and probation officers throughout Zimbabwe -something that affects attempts to strengthen the administration of social protection programmes and the improvement of service delivery. Despite the poor remuneration of employees within the DSD, there are other challenges that militate against proper service delivery, and these include the employment of non-social workers in positions that are reserved for social workers (Kurevakwesu, Chikwaiwa & Mundau, 2022), and the shortage of human, financial and material resources. If the DSD is serious about the implementation of developmental social welfare services, SDOs have to be properly remunerated as they are at the heart of the implementation of such services.…”

“…• The DSD has to work closely with the Council of Social Workers of Zimbabwe in improving professional social work regulation, particularly the training of social workers, social work education and the registration of social workers. For the creation of a developmental welfare state to be successful, there is a need for a competent workforce and this can only be possible if professional social work regulation is improved (Kurevakwesu et al, 2022;Lombard & Wairire, 2010).…”