The efficacy of community based counselling as an intervention strategy in conflict management: A case of Kuwadzana High Density Suburb, Harare

This study evaluated the effectiveness of community counselling as an intervention strategy in conflict management: It was a case study of Kuwadzana high density suburb of Harare Metropolitan Province. The study focused on the community counselling concept as an intervention strategy in conflict management. The study was conducted in Kuwadzana high density suburb which is located at the western side of Harare. The research methodology that was used to conduct the study was qualitative methodology in nature. The research method used was a case study within the interpretive paradigm. The purposive and convenience sample used in this study consisted of thirty (35) participants who were selected from police officers, local business people, nurses, ward councillors and teachers. Data generation was done using the in-depth face to face interview. The research findings from this study were presented in the form of themes that emerged. Themes that emerged were: community perception of community counselling; challenges with traditional methods of conflict management; and inadequate knowledge and skills of handling conflict issues. Recommendations from this research were that there is need to promote both traditional and modern methods of conflict management in Kuwadzana high density suburb by conducting awareness campaigns and establishment of community counselling clinics in every community so that they can be used as community centers for counselling whenever there are either conflicts or no conflicts.