Review

The Deployment of Ubuntu in Social Work Practice in Zimbabwe: Promise and Pitfalls

Vincent Mabvurira 1 * , Cornelius Dudzai 2
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1 CSchool of Psychosocial Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University – Mahikeng Campus, Mahikeng 2745, South Africa2 School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, NSW, Australia* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Social Sciences and Artistic Innovations, 6(2), June 2026, 42-50, https://doi.org/10.35745/ijssai2026v06.02.0009
Submitted: 21 February 2026, Published: 30 June 2026
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ABSTRACT

The Ubuntu philosophy is a guiding and central philosophy underpinning human life for most Bantu people who are found on the African continent and now spread across the globe due to migration.  It defines accepted and unaccepted behaviour. Its principles of care, love, and honesty have been extended to social work, education, management, political science, and even health care in most African countries. The Ubuntu philosophy resonates very well with social work values, principles, and ethics and certain theories such as ecological perspective, biopsychosocial model, and developmental approaches that focus on strengthening individual, community, and social networks. This article used  conceptual analysis, available literature, and authors' observations to critically evaluate the utility of the Ubuntu philosophy in social work practice in Zimbabwe. The central  question was:  What are the prospects and challenges of deploying ubuntu philosophy in contemporary social work practice in Zimbabwe?  Ubuntu has been employed in various practice contexts in Zimbabwe ranging from child protection, poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS and statutory practice. The utility of the Ubuntu philosophy has recently been widely celebrated, with comparatively little critical attention paid to its limitations. Major setbacks levelled against Ubuntu include tension with individualistic models, risks of reinforcing oppressive cultural practices, and ambiguity among other factors.
Keywords: Ubuntu philosophy, Social work, Challenges and prospects, Ubuntu social work, Zimbabwe

CITATION (APA)

Mabvurira, V., & Dudzai, C. (2026). The Deployment of Ubuntu in Social Work Practice in Zimbabwe: Promise and Pitfalls. International Journal of Social Sciences and Artistic Innovations, 6(2), 42-50. https://doi.org/10.35745/ijssai2026v06.02.0009

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