Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has launched investigations into allegations of sexual harassment and abuse at institutions of higher learning in the country as it seeks to get to the bottom of the scourge that is reportedly rampant to curb it.
ZGC Chairperson, Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, announced in a Government Gazette published last Friday.
There have been allegations of rampant sexual harassment and abuse in tertiary institutions either in exchange for better marks on assignments or for other favours, a development that has been a cause for concern for policy makers, guardians and gender activists.
Some of the perpetrators of the abuse have sought to take advantage of financial challenges students at tertiary institutions face, particularly as they seek to address issues to do with their accommodation, food and academic assignments.
It is on that basis that the ZGC said it has moved in to investigate the sexual harassment scourge as it seeks to create a conducive learning environment for tertiary students.
“It is hereby notified that, in terms of section 5 of the Zimbabwe Higher and Tertiary Institutions in Zimbabwe — Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31), the Zimbabwe Gender Commission intends to investigate complaints of sexual harassment in institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe. Further to the above notice, an invitation is hereby given to any victims or witnesses to any acts of sexual harassment and abuse in tertiary institutions and institutions of higher learning to present to the Commission written complaints, witnesses’ statements and any other supporting documents or evidence which can assist in the investigation,” reads the notice.
“Oral hearings will commence thereafter on dates to be advised by the Commission. Any person who wishes to make any submissions regarding the above should visit the Commission Offices and/or submit them, in writing, to the Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, First Floor, Pax House, 89, Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare, or send to [email protected] by not later than the 31st of August, 2025.”
Before launching an investigation the Commission is required to publish a notice in the Gazette and in any one or more national newspapers informing the public, that it intends to investigate any systemic barrier prejudicial to gender equality, gender equity or gender mainstreaming in a specific named sphere of activity or named sector of the society or economy.
The Constitution empowers the Commission to issue summons to any person to attend before it and to produce any document or record relevant to any investigation by the Commission, and to put any questions to any person which the Commission considers will assist its investigation of the matter in question.
It will also require any person questioned by it to answer such questions and to disclose any information within such person’s knowledge which the Commission considers relevant to any investigation by it and to request the assistance of the police during an investigation.
The ZGC is established in terms of Section 246 of the Constitution and its function is to monitor issues concerning gender equality to ensure gender equality as provided in this Constitution, investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender.
Other functions are to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action regarding the complaints as it considers appropriate and to conduct research into issues relating to gender and social justice and to recommend changes to laws and practices which lead to discrimination based on gender.
It is also charged with advising public and private institutions on steps to be taken to ensure gender equality, to recommend affirmative action programmes to achieve gender equality, recommend prosecution for criminal violations of rights relating to gender, to secure appropriate redress where rights relating to gender have been violated.
Bongani Ndlovu