Main Paper Qualitative Social Work 2022, Vol. 0(0) 1–17 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/14733250211061827 journals.sagepub.com/home/qsw The struggle for social work professional identity in contemporary Zimbabwe: A study on abuse of the social work title Wilberforce Kurevakwesu, MSW Social Work Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences, Women’s University in Africa, Bulawayo Campus, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Belamino K Chikwaiwa, PhD Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe Mulwayini Mandau, PhD Senior Lecturer and Chairperson, Department of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe Abstract This study explores one of the key factors influencing the struggle for social work professional identity, enunciating the impact of the effectiveness of the Council of Social Workers of Zimbabwe (CSW) in regulation of social work. This article, as such, focuses on abuse of the social work title in Zimbabwe’s government departments. It examines how non-social workers abuse the title, together with related effects and possible in- terventions. The researchers used a qualitative approach and employed a phenome- nological design. Participants were recruited through snowballing and the researchers reached data saturation after 17 semi-structured telephone interviews. The collected data were analysed through thematic analysis. Findings of the study reflect that government departments employ non-social workers as medical social workers and probation of- ficers, and this generally affects proper service delivery and the social work profession in particular. The study further established that the CSW has to ensure the recruitment of qualified social workers and rigorous monitoring of – and improved collaboration with – Corresponding author: Wilberforce Kurevakwesu, MSW, Social Work Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences, Women’s University in Africa, Bulawayo Campus, Room 504, Charter House, Corner Fort Street and Leopold Takawira, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Email: wilberkureva90@gmail.com