Zimbabwe: 'Female journalists, interns face high level of sexual harassment'

A report by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has revealed that there is a high level of sexual harassment among journalists in the country.

The report released in partnership with the Norwegian Union of Journalists follows statistics released last year that pegs the monthly reported sexual abuse cases in the country at over 900 in the 63 districts.

ZUJ Secretary-General Forster Dongozi told local media NewsDay that the findings of the report were “shocking as they revealed high level of sexual harassment on female journalists including interns.”

“One of the biggest issues was that both perpetrators and victims were aware of sexual harassment,” he added.

Dongozi siad the union will seek solutions including “naming and shaming perpetrators as well as counseling services and legal assistance”.

The country’s deputy health minister Aldrin Musiiwa in December last year that the large number of sexual abuse victims was due to increased awareness of the need to report incidents.

He maintained that the numbers are worrisome and advised that victims who report to health institution first, without a police report, should never be denied access to health intervention.