Journal of Social Development in Africa

Editorial: Celebrating 40 issues of the JSDA and Midlands State University’s silver jubilee: Looking at some of the developmental problems in Southern Africa

Noel G. Muridzo, Wilberforce Kurevakwesu — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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The housing-education nexus in South Africa beyond COVID-19: Implications for social work and social policy

Mziwandile Sobantu, Tapuwa Mwedzi, Ndangwa Noyoo — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The notion that housing is the bedrock of the social and economic development of families and communities is well acknowledged in all societies. From a social development and social policy perspective, this conceptual paper provides a compelling argument about the dividends that accrue from integrating housing and education planning. The rights to housing and education are social investments that promote human, social and economic development. The impact of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and its subsequent lockdowns were too severe on children from poor households who occupied inadequate housing. The authors make use of a literature methodology that synthesises United Nations policies and updates on COVID-19, empirical research and government policies and steps taken to attenuate the impact of the pandemic. The paper establishes that the country is still impaired by high levels of poverty which locks poor children in poor schools and poor housing. During COVID-19, millions of these children had their rights to education undermined because their economic and housing circumstances could not allow them to participate in online learning. Having established the essential social development potential of housing it is therefore fitting to rethink how social policy could be employed to dovetail the housing and education nexus. The authors recommend research to help envision this relationship, not only from a theoretical level but also from collaborative implementation processes.

Perceived causes and consequences of food insecurity in rural Zimbabwe: Using a decolonised methodology

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates perceived causes and associated effects of food insecurity in Kotwa, Mudzi district, Zimbabwe. The study comes at a time when the majority of Zimbabweans are food insecure due to the recent El Niño-induced drought and the situation is worse in rural agro-based communities. We made use of decolonised qualitative methodology through the Ubuntu research approach. We collected data from 11 participants and 3 key informants through dialogue and task approaches. Data were analysed through advanced manual analysis which emphasises the use of native languages in data analysis to ensure that cultural aspects reflected in the data are not lost. In line with the perceived causes of food insecurity, participants highlighted a lack of adequate rainfall, high temperatures, poor soils, laziness and dependence, as well as poverty and unemployment as the causes of food insecurity. The consequences that were reflected include poor physical and mental health, domestic violence, child marriages, crime, and family disintegration. We then recommended, among other recommendations, that there is a need to assist rural agro-based populations with resources and knowledge to produce food despite adverse climatic conditions, and the revival of traditional food insecurity practices like the Zunde raMambo to ensure that communities can rescue households that are food insecure, and not wait for external intervention. Moreover, the government of Zimbabwe should urgently refocus its efforts on addressing food insecurity because it is a threat to national development as it affects well-being and productivity whilst also incubating a host of social problems.

Digital socialisation and self-identity: Psychosocial challenges faced by Generation Z adolescent girls while navigating social media platforms

Itai H. Mafa, Casper Chigwedere — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Through the dual lenses of the psychosocial theory of development and the social learning theory, this multi-disciplinary study looks at the psycho-social effects of social media use on Generation-Z adolescent girls in Zimbabwe, colloquially identified as ‘Ama2000’. This study employed a qualitative approach through a narrative research design. Interviews were conducted with 11 adolescent girls and 4 key informants. Data that were analysed through narrative analysis established that many young girls suffer from body dysmorphic disorder as they felt that their bodies were contrary to the ideal figure depicted on social media platforms. Others also acquired a ‘borrowed identity’ to ‘fit’ into ideal social categories, leading to a low concept of self. Most female adolescents are addicted to social media platforms due to the fear of missing out (FOMO) on trending issues. Ultimately, this affects their worldview and how they interpret themselves and the world around them. The researchers then advocate for the introduction of school social work to strengthen the cognitive processing agency for young girls and educate guardians and teachers on interceptive child-protection practices that can assist them in monitoring their children’s online presence for improved digital well-being.

Voices of social workers on the barriers that women face in accessing substance use treatment services in Limpopo province, South Africa

Dzunisani E. Baloyi, Priscalia Khosa — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The prevalence rate of substance use in women has escalated world over, yet, little is known about their access to available substance use treatment services. This study, through a feminist lens, examines the perspectives of social workers coordinating substance use programmes in South Africa’s Limpopo province on the barriers that women face in accessing substance use treatment services. We adopted a qualitative approach through an exploratory-descriptive research design and conducted semi-structured telephonic interviews with 20 social workers within the Department of Social Development. Data that were analysed through thematic content analysis shows that women encounter personal barriers, like lack of motivation to change and denial about the substance use problem, together with external obstacles such as the shortage of treatment facilities and limited government investment in substance use treatment. The authors then recommend that the government invest more financial resources in substance use treatment to address some of the barriers that women face when seeking treatment.

Socio-economic benefits of women empowerment in small-scale farming in Raffingora, Zimbabwe

Lancelot C. Nyamaka, Jeffrey Kurebwa — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When land was redistributed in Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium, women were also beneficiaries, despite there being a gender dimension in land redistribution. This study examines the socio-economic benefits of women empowerment in small-scale farming (A1 farming) among female farmers in Raffingora, Zimbabwe. The study employed a qualitative approach through an exploratory case study design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 participants and 5 key informants. From the data analysed through thematic analysis, the participants reflected that they benefitted from women empowerment programmes in farming through asset accumulation, independence in decision-making, improved nutrition, improved housing conditions, and improved agricultural practices, despite a plethora of challenges. The researchers then suggest a need to include women in agricultural decision-making processes by removing gender barriers if sustainable agriculture and women's empowerment are to be fully achieved.

Governance of Social Protection Programmes for Poverty Alleviation in Botswana

Constance Gunhidzirai, Morena J. Rankopo — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This review article explores the governance of social protection programs (SPPs) in alleviating poverty in Botswana, using stakeholder theory as a framework. It highlights that the governance of SPPs is an under-researched aspect of Botswana's social policy. Utilising an exploratory case study design and document analysis, the study examines governance strategies and the effectiveness of SPPs in combatting poverty and inequality. Findings indicate that while vulnerable groups benefit from SPPs, wealth distribution remains unequal, marginalising certain communities. Key governance strategies include stakeholder engagement, public awareness, and monitoring from the Department of Social Development. Challenges such as inadequate coordination among various government structures and capacity limitations for social workers are noted. The study calls for increased government transparency in social protection measures to address structural inequalities and empower citizens, contributing valuable insights for improving SPPs in Botswana and other emerging economies.