The Psychosocial Plight of Widows in the Binga District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article discusses the psychosocial challenges of widows in the Binga District in Zimbabwe. The feminist and ecological perspectives were used as theoretical frameworks to elucidate the various challenges faced by the widows in the district. Using a qualitative research approach which locates the participants in their cultural contexts and habitants, a phenomenological research design was employed. Aiming at providing a bifocal perspective on the psychosocial plight of widows, samples were drawn from populations of both widows and social service providers. Purposive sampling was used for selecting three categories of participants, namely ten widows for in-depth interviews, two focus group discussants with each group consisting of seven widows, and nine social service providers who were individually interviewed as key informants. Data were thematically analysed with predetermined themes and emerging themes. The results showed that widows in the Binga District were vulnerable and experienced intense psychosocial problems, which need systematic, interconnected, professional and localised social interventions.