The implications of neoliberalism for the care of orphans in Zimbabwe: Challenges and opportunities for social work practice

Munyaradzi Muchacha,Charles Dziro,Edmos Mtetwa

doi:10.11157/anzswj-vol28iss2id227

Munyaradzi Muchacha, Charles Dziro + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol28iss2id227

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Abstract

The paper explores the implications of neoliberal social policies for the care of orphans in Zimbabwe and looks at the challenges and opportunities for social work practice in such a context. It is estimated that Zimbabwe is home to over 1 million orphaned and vulnerable children most of whom are being looked after by their relatives. As from 1991, Zimbabwe switched over from a “socialist” socio-economic policy trajectory to a neoliberal dispensation. This neoliberal policy regime entails the implementation of austerity measures such as severe cuts on social expenditures, the introduction of stringent means tested social safety nets and reduction of the civil service wage bill. This paper argues that this neoliberal policy regime negatively affects the care of orphans and access to services such as health and education. The reduction of expenditure on social services has also resulted in severe cuts on social work posts within the civil service leading to high caseloads and poor social work practice. The paper concludes by identifying and arguing for developmental social work practice as a social work strategy to challenge and address the implications of neoliberalism through strengthening the capacities of the kinship system, advocacy and contribution to the social policy making process

Highlights

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa with an estimated population of 13 million people
Between the years 1980-1990, Zimbabwe enjoyed a decade of economic prosperity and massive extension of social services to the black majority population who were marginalised by the colonial apartheid (Kanyenze, 2006)
This paper argued that neoliberal policies in Zimbabwe have adversely impacted the care of orphans

Summary

Introduction

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa with an estimated population of 13 million people. Many scholars (see for example, Chan 2003; Kanyenze, 2006; Coltart 2008) attribute these structural socio-economic and political challenges to bad governance and retrogressive social and economic policies implemented by the ZANU-PF led government Neoliberal ideas such as economic liberalisation, austerity and privatisation have increasingly influenced the character and direction of social and economic policies in Zimbabwe (Kanyenze et al, 2011). This country has an estimated over 1 million orphaned children largely as a result of HIV and AIDS (Government of Zimbabwe, 2010). The paper concludes by identifying and arguing for developmental social work practice as a potentially innovative social work approach to support vulnerable families in this neoliberal context

Background and context

Findings

Conclusion