Shockwaves as sexual harassment rises in Zimbabwe ...

Shockwaves as sexual harassment rises in Zimbabwe media: WCOZ demands change

Audrey Galawu

The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe has called upon the government to guarantee the protection and safety of the whistle blower female journalists, creating and upholding clear reporting channels for survivors of sexual harassment.

WCOZ said the government has a responsibility through the ILO Convention 190, to set an example out of this case, demonstrating to the world, its commitment to zero tolerance to violence and harassment of women in the workplace in order to prevent such violence and practices.

This follows cases of sexual harassment reported at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation with one involving the ZBC radio services director, Robson Mhandu who allegedly demanded to be intimate with a female subordinate.

“Women Coalition of Women stands together in solidarity with fellow women's rights organisations to demand accountability and redress regarding the recent allegations of increased sexual harassment of women within media organisations by senior male officers.

“Sexual harassment of women in the workplace is a declaration of war on womankind.

“Harassment of women in the workplace is a human rights violation, which must never be tolerated in our society. The workplace should be a safe sanctuary where women can pursue their careers without fear of harassment from those in positions of power and authority.

“This extends to all media professionals, whether they are in front of the camera, behind it, or working in any capacity within media organisations. We, therefore, demand justice for the female workers in the media space who have been subjected to this devastating ordeal.

“The perpetrators of harassment must be brought to book and be prose for abusing women,” the organisation said.

WCOZ added that the media sector must promote a work culture and environments founded upon the mutual respect and dignity of women.

“Such a work culture cannot be achieved in a context where women are constantly harassed with immunity and without consequences for the perpetrators.

“Women are not commodities that can be enjoyed or traded at will by men, they is the message that the authorities must unequivocally send through addressing the reported cased,” WCOZ further said.

The organisation has called upon the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Media Commission, must step up and reform the media space from being a breeding space for all sorts of gender biases, women discrimination and disempowerment.

The Zimbabwe Media Commission recently came up with a sexual harassment draft policy to create a complaints channel for victims of sexual harassment.

According to the Women in News Africa report on sexual harassment in the media, just over one in five cases of all sexual harassment are ever reported to management.

About 38% of women faced sexual harassment at work against 15% of men, with 41% having perpetrated by supervisors, 38% by a colleague and 17% by a source.

According to the report, 44.9% do not report sexual harassment due to fear, 24.2% due to organisational barriers, 9.9% during to lack of evidence and 7.3% due to indifference.

The report also stated that 50% of managers had been victims of sexual harassment and only 9% reported it.

27% of women in media have faced physical sexual harassment.