Social workers are supposed to be professionals through and through. They are above partisan politics. Social work is a caring and compassionate vocation. It’s a calling perhaps, second only to medicine.
But a whole minister, consumed with driving her party’s agenda, fails to see this.
We are specifically referring to Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene who, in a report we published this week headlined Chimene warns social workers: Join Zanu PF or else, made illegal threats on what are basically and fundamentally civil servants who are required to be above the political fray and who are entitled to freedom of association under the Constitution.
Said Chimene: “Some of you frown upon me a politician. Never underestimate a politician because we are the people who influence policymaking. The moment you make life difficult to us, then it will also be tough for you. The moment we say we don’t want social workers, it would be over for you.” What modern State with the welfare of the people at heart would do without social workers? This is an arrogant, ignorant and reckless thing to say.
She added: “Therefore, I am encouraging you to get into politics and promote your profession from a political ground. The moment I invite you into politics, you should know what to do. You can never be a good social worker without a good political background.”
Would Chimene herself hire someone who is not a medical doctor to conduct surgery on her and her family? She would definitely not do so. So why foist political appointments on the nation when there are duly qualified professionals?
Added Chimene: “But let me advise you on positive politics: If you are against Zanu PF, then there is nothing you will be doing and then where do you report to? Zanu PF is controlling everything — the government, Parliament, chiefs and councillors and many other departments. So if you want to do it the other way round you will suffer.”
It’s not sanctions, but such repressive politicisation that has brought Zimbabwe to its knees. They have politicised basic economics with disastrous results. Now it’s the turn of social work, but you can’t politicise knowledge and skills and hope to succeed.
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May be they need to be reminded of the definition and role of the civil service. The civil service is made up of the permanent professional branches of a State’s administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians. The words “permanent” and “professional” are key here. Appointments to the civil service are permanent in that the State administration continues even after change of government. Government is voted in and voted out, but the State is always there. And appointments to the civil service are made on professional basis — that is qualification and ability — not on political patronage.
The tragedy is that such ignorance and arrogance is typical of the present government. No one — including Chimene’s boss President Robert Mugabe — will call her to order.
This is our tragic lot.
