Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association has raised the alarm over a surge in digital gender-based violence targeting women and girls in the informal sector.
Marking the start of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, BVTA said the campaign theme Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls captures a growing threat that is hitting the most vulnerable.
The association said women traders, vendors and small-scale entrepreneurs now depend heavily on online platforms to advertise their goods, a shift that has sadly opened new doors for abuse. Many are falling victim to online harassment, image-based exploitation and other forms of technology-driven GBV.
Recent national statistics reveal a grim picture. About 63 percent of women journalists have experienced some form of digital abuse. Hate speech stands at 60 percent, trolling at 17 percent and sexual harassment at 12 percent.
BVTA said it is disturbing that the same digital tools created to boost business visibility are now being used as weapons against hardworking women.
The association also warned that small and medium enterprises face a double threat, with many becoming victims of global cyberattacks. Studies show that about 70 percent of cyberattacks target SMEs, and Zimbabwean businesses fall squarely into that danger zone. Limited resources, poor digital literacy and weak online security systems make MSMEs easy prey.
BVTA said it remains committed to pushing for a safer business environment that protects traders and acknowledges the critical role women play in the informal economy. The organisation is advocating for stronger laws, tighter enforcement and improved online safety measures from tech companies.
The group said its efforts align with the National Gender-Based Violence Strategy running from 2023 to 2030, which aims to cut GBV cases by 30 percent and promote a survivor-centred response system.
BVTA has urged the public, policymakers and private sector players to stand together in preventing and responding to all forms of GBV, both offline and online.
