Block fieldwork placements in Zimbabwe: Key challenges

Fieldwork is essential to social work education in Zimbabwe, yet block placement models face substantial challenges. This reflective exploration draws on the author’s experience supervising undergraduate social work students in Southern Africa between 2015 and 2026. The article identifies three key challenges: limited university supervision due to resource constraints, shortage of suitable host agencies and financial barriers for students. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature from Southern Africa. Implications for social work education, practice and policy are discussed. This article concludes with recommendations for government funding, university-agency partnerships and policy reform.