The Role of Traditional Leadership in Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zimbabwe

African Traditional Leadership Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID22097675
AuthorsJohn Ringson (0000-0003-2422-4319, University of Johannesburg, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume56
Issue2
Publication date2020-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Work/Maatskaplike Werk (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2312-7198 • E-ISSN: 0037-8054
PublisherStellenbosch University (PUBLISHER • ZA)
DOI10.15270/56-2-821
OpenAlexW3036603756
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited8

The experiences of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Zimbabwe find expression in the maxim that says ‘Where two elephants fight, the grass suffers the most’. Orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe have been the casualties of disharmony between traditional and contemporary leadership philosophies for more than three decades. Using a phenomenological approach, the study involved 20 key informants, who included community leaders and OVC caregivers. Underpinned by the traditional leadership perspectives, the study examined the role of traditional leaders in supporting OVC for the purposes of integrating its relevant compatible elements with modern OVC care and support systems. The study showed that there is lack of synchronicity between traditional and contemporary OVC care and support systems, which ultimately compromises the effectiveness of the social care professions in rural communities in Zimbabwe. The study recommends the establishment of an integrated contextually-based OVC care and support model to enhance the relationship between traditional and contemporary leadership in Zimbabwe

Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Children's Rights and Participation · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access