Single Parenthood: A Borrowed Culture and a Dilemma for the Karanga People of Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Abstract

This study sought to find out the causes, attitudes, perceptions and impact of single parenthood 
among Karanga people. The study focuses on how the Karanga community perceives single 
parenthood. The study is informed by the Cultural Hermeneutics Theory and Functionalist Theory.  
It uses a qualitative descriptive survey research design.  The research purposively selected thirty 
(30) Karanga participants in Masvingo high density suburbs. A semi-structured questionnaire and 
face-to-face interviews were used to collect data.  Data were analysed using the constant 
comparative method for thematic coding. Results indicated that single parenting is now a common 
reality in the study setting.  It showed that single parenting mainly affects widows, divorcees, those 
who fall pregnant and never marry, and the raped ones as well as the ‘small houses’/ mistresses, 
and those who are in polygamous situations unknown by other family members/relatives. The 
participants revealed that working mothers are comfortable raising their children alone and showed 
that they are also able to impart their social norms and values to their off-spring. Participants 
believed that their situations can change and they proposed to incorporate other cultures in the 
Zimbabwe Marriage Act so that the causes, attitudes and perceptions of single parenting are 
appreciated. The study also established the need to re-educate society on the importance of 
marriage and the need to minimise incidents of separation and divorce.  Societies and communities 
should be enlightened on the issue of single parenting so as to help resolve most challenges faced 
by single parent, in line with the global changes.