……..having ears, hear ye not?….Mark 8:18 KJV

‘In the little world in which children have their existence’, says Pip in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, ‘there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt, as injustice.’

https://psychpoliticszw.wordpress.com/2021/02/18/psychology-administration-in-zimbabwe/

The write up is a response to the comments on the Zimbabwe Psychology Association (ZPA) fora on the article “PSYCHOLOGY ADMINISTRATION IN Zimbabwe” whose link has been provided above. The purpose of this article is not reactionary, rather the article seeks to correct fundamental errors within the comments which reacted to the afore mentioned post. This response has been made necessary by the estimated influence that some of those who commented might have, the attempts to poke words in the article or lack of comprehension of basic facts cited, attempts by some seeking to disfranchise voices in psychology via name calling such as “Johny cum latelies”. The present article will be factual and try to reposition psychological issues within Zimbabwe. Comments given in ZPA fora will be written in italics, bolded and proper responses will be given.

Comment one states: “The is nowhere where psychologist were registered just because they had a first degree. It never happened. They were registered because they had the post grad diploma in psychology which was equivalent to a masters at that time or they had an Msc. This is self interest at its highest level.” (February 18, 21:42)

The first comment seeks to deny a historical fact in psychology by denying in toto that persons with only a honours degree in psychology registered and practiced in Zimbabwe as psychologists. The author of this unfortunate comment is trying to rewrite history of psychology in Zimbabwe and thought it expedient to state that persons with an honors degree in psychology only were allowed to register with an additional post graduate diploma in Psychology. The Psychology regulations of 2016 which set the tone to make Psychology a masters practice in Zimbabwe by providing a transition clause for those who had previously registered with use of only of honors degree in psychology. The regulations in citing this, is an admission on the part of Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe(AHPCZ) that they do have such persons registered within their register. On the part of postgraduate diploma the regulations are silent on that part. The regulations here state on page 29 under Topic 11 Transition b): “Current Registered Interns without Masters’ Degree (First Degree Holders only). Current BSc Degree interns to be registered as Psychologists under current arrangements.” (AHPCZ Psychologist Training, Registration and Practice in Zimbabwe 2016 Regulations).

At 20:39 Mr Memory Nguwi makes these comments which are unfortunate as they do not make reference to any facts but rather a mumbo jumbo of subtle empty venomous comments without content.

“This is ignorance its highest level. This person has no idea what psychologist should do and the level of responsibility placed on the work thet do. Psychologists can destroy people’s lives if not well trained. No where in the world would you find this wishful thinking.” (Memory Nguwi February 18 20:39)

The article in question did not at any point underestimated the responsibility of psychologist and there is nowhere in the article suggest that ‘not well trained’ psychologists should practice. These comments suggest two things that Mr Memory Nguwi may have struggled to comprehend matters espoused in the article or was commenting on an article he did not read.

Mr Memory Nguwi again at 21:41 comments again: “The profession is regulated everywhere in the world. Those who are capable should go through the mill. No shotcut.”

Mr Nguwi’s comments again are on tangent, the article on which he puts such comments is on how psychology has been regulated from different administrations and various processes which resulted in psychology representatives assuming chairpersons roles in AHPCZ. It’s unfortunate that his comments imply that the article on which he proffers comments suggest that psychology in Zimbabwe should not be regulated and more so that persons should not go “through the mill” as his suggestion.

In a typical fashion of the emperor’s new clothes Mr Douglas’ commentary had entered the stage with these words:

“I am to say the least diasppoinred by this blind politicization of the noble profession by this blind politicization of the noble profession by Johny cum latelies who see political shadows everywhere. Without going into details the writer needs to acquaint him/herself with the history of psychology in Zim before uttering statements without foundation. I wonder what this Zambezi outfit that thinks that one can just practice because one has a degree in psychology. It smacks of total ignorance of the practice of the field where competence and ethics are supreme to protect the public from charlatans. Let it be not said the new administration of psychology is better than one before it. Its crap nonsense!” (21:33 February 18)

Mr Douglas’ comments in similar fashion of that of Mr Memory Nguwi comment’s on issues absent from the text. The original text which he comments on does not suggest that persons who are holders of honours degree in psychology should practice as psychologists, rather the text recognizes that they are persons in AHPCZ register as psychologists with honours degree and AHPCZ psychology regulations of 2016 on page 29 recognizes this and provides a transition.

The current administration which Mr Douglas’ commentary puts into comparison with the previous administration is less than 9 months old with 4 years and a couple of months to go, but he seems to have judged its performance by now:

 “Let it be not said the new administration of psychology is better than one before it. Its crap nonsense!” .

The article in which he so places this hasty comment does not compare which is a better administration as Mr Douglas commentary has done. The original article recognizes that psychology is in a transition and mentions various transitional changes which occurred under different administrations.

The comments of subjugating voices and disfranchising them as “Johny cum Latelies” is unfortunate in the field of psychology in Zimbabwe were the field has been in stagnation for various reasons which include gate keeping measures. Persons from undergraduate and users of psychological services should be heard without them risking being called names. No one owns psychology in Zimbabwe, ‘New voices’ should be welcomed. In neighboring South Africa in 2017 they did a continental conference called 5th Psychological Conference were the focus was on promoting New voices rather than subjugating them and it was a great success were students from undergrad in psychology to PhD holders presented. Its surprising that here we still think only a few old voices matter.

Mr Marshal Pemhiwa comments join the fray to ululate while the emperor is in new clothes in a tease fashion:

I wish people could engage more and avoid watching the world from their windows.

I would add that people should be independent in thought and avoid blind following. On this comment Abbie Hoffman words are most fitting that “Kids must be educated to disrespect authority or else democracy is a farce. Closing this samchad.com comments something interesting which would be very important especially to the young in the field of psychology that “ The Organisations of the future are those that have questions”.

In conclusion psychology is in a transition and the old tired thinking of exclusion and monopolizing psychology by a few cliques of persons in Zimbabwe should be a thing of the past. Psychology should be seen serving competently in various areas. Some who are within the Health Service Board as psychologists should be busy to ensure that institutions such as hospitals and various psychiatric institutions are properly staffed with psychologist serving the greater nation of Zimbabwe.

Prosper K Mushauri

Coordinator

Society of Zambezi Psychology