The majority legal status of women in Southern Africa: Implications for women and families

Women in many countries of southern Africa do not have majority status or have only recently gained this right. Majority status grants individuals adult legal status and the right to bring matters to court, own and administer property, have legal custody of children, and contract for marriage. This article summarizes the legal status of women in Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Lack of majority status contributes to the ongoing risk of poverty for women and makes them overly dependent on men. Compounding the situation in these countries is the presence of a dual legal system. Improving the situation of women and their families involves targeting changes in the legal system, influencing implementation of laws, educating women about their rights, and giving women needed support to seek their legal rights. The legal status of women must be viewed in the context of historical changes in the economic, educational, political, and cultural developments of society.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44657/1/10834_2005_Article_BF02267045.pd

Traditional beliefs and practices versus public health approach to COVID-19: Perspectives of social work academics in Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a thorn in the flesh for many governments across the globe. This virus which has indiscriminately affected people of all walks of life has almost brought the entire world to a halt. The novel virus has been surrounded by  misconceptions, fears, myths and confusion and even the world's best health care systems and health practitioners have grappled to arrest it. Several misconceptions have occupied the minds of many in Africa. These misconceptions have been exacerbated by the fact that most recommendations by health experts are against African values and ways of life. This study, informed by the health belief model, sought to explore the perspectives of social work academics in Zimbabwe about the misconceptions around COVID-19 as well asthe interface between African traditional beliefs, practices and preventions measures promulgated to curb the virus. The study adopted a qualitative approach and purposive-convenience sampling techniques were used to select participants among social work academics in Zimbabwe. Data was collected through telephonic interviews. The study established that public health approach to COVID-19 interferes with certain traditional African beliefs and practices amongst black African people. Examples are social distancing, stepstaken in burial of Covid-19 victims, isolation of COVID-19 patients among other things. Social workers therefore have a role to play in creating awareness about the virus through the use of all platforms available to people, monitoring traditional events to ensure that people do not continue to be exposed to the virus, engaging traditional leaders and sensitise them on the dangers of not followingCOVID-19 regulations among their community members. Key words: social work, Covid-19, myths, academics, Ubuntu, public health approac

Psychosocial Effects of Divorce on Young Women Who Grew Up in Divorced Families at Rustenburg, Moruleng Village

Parental divorce account for a host of emotional, behavioural, and social maladjustment in children and the phenomenon have been found to be a major risk factor for both internalizing and externalizing problems in children and young adults. Yet, limited research attention has focused on the effect of parental divorce and the psychosocial needs of children. These connections have implication for behaviour in adulthood. The present study therefore explored the psychosocial effects of divorce on young women who grew up in divorced families at Rustenburg, Moruleng Village. The study employed qualitative approach and exploratory research redesign. Sample of 5 young women from Rustenburg in Moruleng Village were sampled using snowball sampling technique and data was analysed thematically through the aid of Atlas Ti qualitative software. In this study, findings show that young women from divorced families expressed negative feelings and emotions and distorted emotions after episode of parental divorce. They further indicated that these young women in later adulthood develop and form hate characters as a result of the abusive and shock experiences during the processes of parental divorce. Based on these findings, it is recommended that government should prioritize children rights, particularly children from divorced families in South Africa and provide free counselling services for them as this will assist in decreasing negative feelings and emotions, promote positive behaviour and ensure stable adulthood behaviour

The Survival Interactional Strategies Toward Sustainable Livelihoods Amongst the Migrants in the Rural Areas of Limpopo Province

Survival interactional strategies are important for migrants towards sustainable livelihoods. The purpose of the study was to describe the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants in the selected areas of South Africa. This research was qualitative and used descriptive design to zoom into the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants. Researchers used purposive and convenient sampling techniques to sample the migrants' youth. Data was collected through telephonic individual interviews to comply with COVID-19 national regulations and analyzed thematically. The study considered research ethics and trustworthiness as a research quality criteria. Findings showed that there is a need for effective social networks, sense of togetherness, entrepreneurial network, emotional support and economic support which are not   easily realized by people from foreign countries as some of the South African policies are unfavorable to immigrants. Without those mentioned above, the immigrants face challenges when engaged with established relationship with people in the same business, support from spouses and fellow countrymen, functional reciprocal referral system, credit sales of goods, and teamwork as survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the immigrants. The survival interactional strategies are not easily realized by immigrants as some of the South African Policies and realities are unfavorable to the conditions of the people from the foreign countries. Social workers are thus, required to provide awareness on human diversity, and the impacts of xenophobic attacks to the South African community. Social work practitioners should also be mandated to develop and run an awareness programme on the survival interactional strategies toward sustainable livelihoods amongst the migrants.&nbsp