Exploring the Barriers to Social Entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe: The Case of Graduate Professional Social Workers in Harare

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is a phenomenon that has not been fully exploited to create employment and uplift underprivileged communities in Zimbabwe. Graduate social workers are expected to champion establishment of social enterprises. However they have opted to join the band wagon of people migrating into the diaspora in search of employment opportunities. This paper sought to establish why graduate social workers are not willing to venture into social enterprises despite the relevant training they possess and the vast opportunities presented by the ever shrinking Zimbabwe economy. Data was collected through interviews with social work graduates, students and a director of a social work school in Harare. The findings revealed that the curricular of social work does not have the entrepreneurial training component; there is lack of financial support and that there is a generalnon acceptance of such ventures by communities. The study recommends that the social work curricular be revised to incorporate entrepreneurial training and that successful social entrepreneurial ventures be given publicity to make them acceptable to both the communities and financial institutions.

Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, social work, barriers, opportunities, unemployment