Opportunities and challenges for political social work in Zimbabwe: Implications for practice.

Abstract

The study examined opportunities and challenges for political social work practice in Zimbabwe. It sought to determine the level of political social work practice in Zimbabwe, assess opportunities and challenges for political social work practice and examine strategies that can be used to improve political social work practice. The structural social work theory was used to explain and inform the study. The researcher used a mixed methods approach where quantitative and qualitative approaches were triangulated. Census was used to sample all active members of NASWZ to participate in a survey and purposive sampling was used to select key informants. The study found out that the level of political social work practice in Zimbabwe is very low. The study also identified a number of opportunities for political social work practice in Zimbabwe such as professional recognition and relevance, employment opportunities for social workers, ethical politics and increased democracy. It was also noted that challenges for political social work include ideological dilemma, professional stigmatization, prohibition at work and lack of political social work skills. The study has also identified strategies to improve political social work in Zimbabwe which include reviewing social work curriculum to include political social work modules, uniting social workers and creating a strong NASWZ, embarking on bench-marking tours to countries that practice political social work, running for political office and participating in political and social activism. Based on these findings, the study has espoused recommendations which include political social work skills workshops and conferences, creation of social work networks, lobbying, and training of doctoral level students by schools of social work in Zimbabwe.