WUASpace Repository
The WUASpace is an open access digital archive which collects, preserves, and disseminates scholarly content produced by the WUA community. WUASpace contains journal articles, book chapters, postgraduate thesis/dissertations, conference papers, pre-prints, working papers, technical reports, progress reports, project reports, among others.
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Recent Submissions
Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Social Work Education: A Desktop Literature Review Perspective
(Ngenani: The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti Journal of Community Engagement and Societal Transformations, 2026-08-12) Gift Saladi; Kudzai Mwapaura
The rapid advancement and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various professional domains present a transformative, yet complex, challenge for social work. While AI holds immense potential to enhance efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and provide data-driven insights for social services, its adoption also introduces profound ethical and practical dilemmas. This desktop literature review explores the landscape of AI in social work education, synthesizing existing research, professional guidelines, and scholarly discourse, to provide a comprehensive overview. The article argues that the ethical and responsible use of AI is not merely a technical concern but a core pedagogical imperative that must be woven into the fabric of social work curricula. It examines key themes, including the potential benefits of AI in education and practice, the critical ethical challenges, such as algorithmic bias, privacy, and the de-emphasis of the human-centred relationship, and the necessary competencies social work students must acquire. The review concludes with recommendations for social work educators, highlighting the need for a revised curriculum that fosters AI literacy, critical thinking, and a robust ethical framework to prepare future professionals for a technologically mediated world.
An Analysis of the Socio-Economic Experiences of Stay-At-Home Wives in Harare, Zimbabwe
(Ngenani: The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti Journal of Community Engagement and Societal Transformations, 2026-10-21) Matilda Choga; Kudzai Mwapaura
In the Zimbabwean society, many stay-at-home wives face many challenges. These include stereotypes that in-laws have about their sons’ money being abused and the laziness of stay-at-home wives. They always think that stay-at-home wives do not contribute anything meaningful to the household, because household work is undervalued and unpaid. They are given derogatory nicknames that show that they are worthless, yet they have very important roles within the household and family as a whole. This results in poor mental health, anxiety, low selfesteem and depression among housewives. Some have failed to inherit assets from their husbands because in-laws believe that they did not contribute financially, hence, they are vulnerable to poverty upon widowhood. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of stay-at-home wives with the aim of developing strategies to reduce the challenges they face. The objectives of this study are to explore the roles of stay-at-home wives, examine the challenges they face and assess the coping mechanisms that they use to overcome these challenges. This study uses a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews with 10 stay-at-home mothers. This study also includes two focus group discussions.
Challenges faced by the diversion programmes on young offenders
(EUREKA: Social and Humanities, 2024-07-31) Vongai P. Mangwiro; Pius T. Tanga; Gabriel A. Ekobi
The diversion programmes provide the platform for the young in conflict with the law a chance to improved social behaviour and be responsible in their communities. However, studies, done on the diversion programmes, focused on factors influencing crime and rates of recidivism of the juveniles. This paper explores the challenges, faced by the diversion programmes on young offenders in East London (Eastern Cape Province), South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and a case study research design to answer the objective of the study. Twenty-five (25) participants took part in the study and were selected purposively. Semi-structured and unstructured interview guides were employed to collect data from the participants. Two themes were identified and the themes identified were the types of diversion programmes, provided to young offenders, and the challenges, faced by the diversion programmes on offenders. It was found that the wilderness therapy, community outreach programme, substance abuse, life skills and community pre-trial programmes were the types of diversion programmes, offered to young offenders. The various types of programmes help offenders to gain insight into what triggers them to commit crimes and teaches them how to avoid re-offending. Also, challenges, such as the lack of transport, psychological issues, shunning relationships and high caseloads, plague the programmes. The challenges hinder the quantity and quality of services, provided to offenders. Also, it leads to poor relationships and communication between the offenders and the community. The study concludes the challenges prevented the young offenders to be empowered and change their behaviours for the better. It is recommended that the government and other stakeholders in the diversion programmes should design and implement legal and policy frameworks, which could improve the effectiveness of the programmes.
Amplifying African voices: Promoting regional perspectives in global children’s rights forums
(African Journal of Social Work, 2025-07-13) Vongai Mangwiro; Francis Maushe
This study explored the challenges and opportunities associated with amplifying African voices in global children’s rights forums. Employing a qualitative research methodology rooted in African-centred paradigms, the study identified barriers such as structural inequities, limited representation and cultural misalignment in global dialogues. Findings indicated that African perspectives, particularly those emphasising community-based child welfare approaches and indigenous knowledge systems, remain underutilised but critical to achieving equitable policies. The study recommended strengthening African regional networks to ensure a collective voice, enabling regional coalitions to challenge systemic exclusions and influence global priorities. It also emphasised investing in capacity-building programmes to equip African advocates with leadership, advocacy and cross-cultural communication skills. The study called for challenging dominant Western frameworks by promoting indigenous philosophies such as Ubuntu, which offer culturally grounded and sustainable approaches. The use of digital platforms was identified as a means to reduce logistical and financial barriers, enhancing accessibility and broadening participation. Additionally, the integration of indigenous knowledge systems, such as storytelling and collective parenting, into global policy processes was highlighted as essential to ensuring relevance and effectiveness. The research contributes to new frameworks for inclusive global cooperation, advocating for the recognition and integration of African worldviews in advancing children’s rights.
Assessing the Impact of Diversion Programmes on Young Offenders in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
(E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS), 2024-11-29) Vongai P. Mangwiro; Pius T. Tanga; Gabriel A. Ekobi
Diversion programmes have been found to be effective mechanisms to reduce crime and change the behaviours of youth globally and in South Africa. However, studies done on diversion programmes have focused more on factors influencing crime, rates of recidivism and treatment of the offenders. This paper thus explored the impact of diversion programmes on young offenders in the Eastern Cape Province. The paper used a qualitative research approach, and 30 participants took part. An interview guide was employed to collect data from the participants and analysed thematically. Key themes identified are the types of diversion programmes and the different ways the diversion programmes influence the offenders. It was revealed that life skills, wilderness therapy and community pre-trial programmes were the types of diversion programmes offered to offenders. The programmes provided the opportunity for offenders to obtain decision-making skills and rational thinking which enabled them to manage their own lives. The study concluded that the programmes have helped empower and change the behaviours of the offenders for the better. However, the offenders were plagued with challenges such as the lack of money for transport and food which hindered empowerment. It is therefore recommended that the government and other stakeholders should ensure that parents and community members continue to support offenders as this could lead to a change of behaviour for the better. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of empowering and changing the behaviours of offenders.