The COVID -19 Legacy - Social protection fragilities and frontline social work practice dynamics in Zimbabwe post COVID -19 pandemic

Abstract

Zimbabwe’s socio-economic trajectory consists intractable challenges that were partly reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Zimbabwe was not spared from pervasive the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic induced social protection challenges complicated by how the country was smarting from devastating 2019 Cyclone Idai effects and other natural climatic shocks. Based on a methodology of reviewing secondary literature, exploration is made of how post the 2020 COVID pandemic, social workers continue to navigate the precarity of vulnerable persons that existed even before onset of COVID-19. Examination is also made regarding robustness of Zimbabwean government’s social protection mechanisms to cushion citizens. Finally, pathways are proposed through which social workers’ methods of interventions can continue to be enhancing socio-economic functioning to militate against long term COVID-19 impacts.