Amplify voices against sexual harassment, females urged

H-Metro Reporter
DEPUTY Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Kindness Paradza has urged women in the media to continue amplifying their voices in fighting sexual harassment.

Speaking on behalf of Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting, Monica Mutsvangwa, during the Zimbabwe Women in Media conference, he said:

“Forty percent of women have, one way or the other, faced sexual harassment and one in five reported these cases,” he said.

“My office does not condone such behaviour, currently we are investigating cases of sexual harassment within the media sector and promise to continue fighting against sexual harassment.

“I also urge senior women in the media to be their sisters’ keepers and protect each other within their work spaces,” Dep Min Paradza said.

He also urged media organisations to adopt and implement functional sexual harassment policies. Deputy Minister Paradza said the media sector must be gender-sensitive as this will clear patriarchal misconceptions which have hindered working environments for some women.

According to sexual harassment in the media, Africa Report, women are twice more likely to experience sexual harassment than men. Abigail Gamanya, the national director of Gender and Media Connect, emphasised the need for fairness for everyone in working spaces.

“Media organisations should allow anonymous reporting to protect victims of sexual harassment

“All reports and cases should be taken seriously and dealt with,” said Gamanya.

Similar sentiments were echoed by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission CEO, Virginia Muwanigwa, who emphasised the need for employers to protect their workers from sexual harassment.

Muwanigwa urged organisations to uphold constitutionalism that vehemently denounces abuse and harassment.

Public Service Commissioner, Dr Tsitsi Choruma, said women in media needed to be empowered to reduce sexual harassment.

“There should also be support associations for women and they should achieve efficient service delivery,” Dr Choruma said.

Tendai Garwe, affectionately as Sokostina, said women with disabilities were facing more challenges and finding it difficult to navigate in the industry.