Social work practice in Zimbabwe

The development of social work in Zimbabwe is closely tied to the country's colonial history, its orientation reflecting a wholesale transfer from the British experience. Social work in Zimbabwe developed as a response to urban social ills such as crime, prostitution and destitution. The philosophy of the colonial policy makers was that such social ills, if unattended, would undermine order and stability. Social work was, therefore, seen primarily as an instrument of social control, and never seriously addressed itself to the root causes of social problems. Since Zimbabwean Independence there has been a gradual shift towards developmental social work aimed at promoting social change. The Ministry of Community and Cooperative Development and a cross section of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) are involved in empowering rural communities and building their capacity for self reliance. However, the Department of Social Welfare, a major setting for social work practice in Zimbabwe, continues to be basically curative in orientation.