Chairman

Dr Witness Chikoko

Qualifications: Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, 2017. Master of Social Work Degree, University of Zimbabwe, 2011. Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management, University of Zimbabwe, 2008. Honours Degree in Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, 2002.

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Chairperson's Statement

The Department of Social Work is a social work education, training and research Department in the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe. Its vision is become the pre-eminent center of excellence in social work education, research and outreach work both in Zimbabwe and internationally. The department’s mission is to provide relevant, quality and appropriate social work education that prepares human power for practice in a variety of settings, locally and internationally.

The Department began as a School of Social Work in 1964 in collaboration with the Jesuit Priests of the Roman Catholic Church. Its foundation was partly inspired by the need to train enough social workers to meet the needs of vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe. In August 2016, the Department relocated from the town campus to the University of Zimbabwe Main Campus in Mt Pleasant, Harare. The transition facilitated the change in name, from School of Social Work to Department of Social Work which is being used to date in line with the University of Zimbabwe Ordinances. As a Department, we remain committed to offering high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education and training to produce high quality and innovative research products. In terms of professional affiliation, the Department of Social work is a member of the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). Our programmes are benchmarked against global standards to ensure the production of quality social workers. This has, over the years, enabled us to produce quality graduates capable of competing with others at a local, regional and global level. Our strategic thrust is to enhance our engagement with civil society, government and its development partners in undertaking applied social work research and social development programmes.

At a macro level, the Department has concentrated its research efforts on addressing policy and practice in the protection of orphans and other vulnerable children; persons with disability; disaster risk reduction; HIV and AIDS; poverty reduction; human rights and social justice; food security and drought mitigation strategies; psycho social support strategies; social policy including social protection; rural and urban development issues and other humanitarian issues in Zimbabwe. The department has developed active and functional linkages with implementing agencies such as UNICEF, Department of Social Development, Council of Social Workers and the National Association of Social Workers in Zimbabwe (NASW-Z). It has also broadened its scope of work and strategically positioned itself to work with the private sector, civil society and NGOs intending to end poverty, human misery, violation of human rights, as well as ensuring the psychological and social wellbeing of all in society.