Environmental crisis and sustainable development in Zimbabwe: a social work perspective

Abstract

The relevance of social work as a helping profession in Zimbabwe is under threat because its major purpose remains cramped within social issues devoid of environmental concerns. The key functions of the profession revolve around the restoration of coping capacities and enhancement of social functioning in the upkeep of an individual’s well-being. From the ecological point of view, these dynamics are drawn from the micro, mezzo and macro levels of the societal structure. The most salient feature in the promotion of a sustainable system is the prevention of problems that occur as a result of a bad rapport between man and his environment. This article argues that social work needs to incorporate environmental issues so that it nurtures sustainable development in its praxis. Hitherto, social work has been relegated to become a cure for social ills and not an active player in the prevention of social problems in Zimbabwe. These are the problems faced by the social work clientele in their daily lives but little attention is paid to their implications in the social environment. In this paper, the author reaches a conclusion that the inclusion of environmental issues in social work promotes sustainable socio-economic development in Zimbabwe.

Keywords: environment, environmental sustainability, sustainable development, social work, Zimbabwe