The paper is cognizant of the fact that human problems remain yet to be solved. Munroe (1978) is of the view that human problems are extremely difficult to solve and also that they are the last unconquered area of sciences. The issue of psychology falling in the protected field has international precedence and is not unique with Zimbabwe. It is a phenomenon especially found in the western nations and in Africa, South Africa namely the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has ensured that psychology remains a protected field. The field of psychology is interesting and requires protection in that it deals with the aspect which make human, human. Human has been defined as tripartite body with spirit, soul and body, from the divine sources 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It is my understanding that psychology in its praxis of restoring or helping in normal functioning, it touches upon such aspects of the tripartite being. Psychology has more however concerned its self more on the two aspects of human thus the soul and body. It is my unhidden belief that given the importance of such aspects which psychology touches on, both as the “minister of the soul and as a physician of the body” we can never leave the field to charlatans or amateurs to do their best or worst (Monroe 1978). Hence the field of psychology should remain protected so that the unconquered human problems which people live with, threatening their soul and bodies are addressed with adequate professional expertise they require.

 Definition of terms

The (2016) regulations does good in defining  the psychologist as an individual who has completed all academic and internship requirements of the psychology profession and has been duly registered by the council as a practicing psychologist. In this it helps in rightly defining the difference between a psychology degree holder and a psychologist. It also helps to clear the line that those who at any point might have done a module in their respective courses for example in teacher training, that they understand as well and the public at large that the mere doing of such a module and or modules of psychology or related to psychology do not make them at any given point psychologists or those who might have helped someone with a problems of living without training and registration are not psychologists. Only a person who has completed academic training and internship requirements of the profession and has duly registered becomes a psychologist. Drawing of such a line in the sand helps the public not to be fleeced by charlatans who might at any point masquerade as psychologist. It also helps the field to maintain its status as a helping science as people would seek good helping science from properly trained psychologist as they would know who the psychologist is and who is not.

An intern is a graduate psychology trainee registered as an intern who has to complete an accredited internship programme prior to the registration as a professional psychologist. Internship is a formal programme that provides practical experience to explore a gain relevant knowledge and skills required to practice independently as registered psychologist.

Registration categories

Clinical, community counselling, educational, engineering, forensic, neuron, occupational, industrial psychologist, research psychologist. In order for candidates to be registered as psychologist, theoretical knowledge, coursework should be completed within five years after registration as a student psychologist. The supervising psychologist is obliged to ensure that the psychology intern is registered as such in the correct category which the candidate has registered in the Master’s degree. The requirements that registration as a psychologist requires a Masters degree or registration of a master degree program within the period of internship, this clearly shows that Zimbabwe has made psychology a master’s profession or praxis. The demands also that a person be registered in the domain of practice also reinforces that psychology has become a masters profession as most psychology programs are only defined at masters level.

 Attachment of students

It is my psychological conviction that local universities in Zimbabwe should scrap undergraduate attachment as a way to protect the field of psychology, which still is yet to make an impact as in North America where every activity is heavily informed by psychologist (Monroe, 1978). Not withstanding the discretion of local universities. One of the ethics of psychology is the duty to be competent (Austed 2009). As students would be dealing with real life situations and problems especially during their third year , it is most likely that they would not have reached or attained such level of competence required especially in clinical settings and of note also is that clients are not objects which can be experimented with, clients of psychological services have the right to receive quality services and adequate feedback hence to meet such obligations training institutions should revert to a 3 year general degree in psychology program and an additional 1 year fulltime honors for those who wish to further train with prospects of registration. It’s then after the honors qualification is obtained that clients or users of mental health services are not short exchanged by services offered by novices under the guise of attachment. Munroe (1978) is of the belief that it takes to three years just to fathom the basic elements in psychology, he further state that it is a mistake which is widely made throughout the world, in all fields is to concentrate on the production of partially trained people who have some acquaintance with the methods of the professional but lack the depth of training to make a noteworthy and creative contribution to solving problems in practice.

Masters students in psychology, psychology students and the psychology fraternity in general applaud the decision made by the council to ensure that all Honours programs in psychology should have a dissertation this is important to ensure that practicing psychologist will have the much needed research skills within their praxis. Our wish is also that all psychology students register with the council before the commencement of their studies, this will ensure that only properly qualified persons are trained and also to ensure that the university do that flout psychology standards by recruiting unqualified personnel to study psychology especially at masters level as a way to fund raise. Hence such approach will ensure that those qualified to play with psychological gunpowder are allowed so without iatrogenic harm to its recipients

I wish you an early merry Christmas

Yours sincerely

Prosper K Mushauri.