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The Herald, July 19, 1990

SEXUAL harassment at work places in Zimbabwe is becoming common and men tend to regard women as sexual objects with narrowly defined roles in the home.

Addressing the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions women’s workshop in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Community and Co-operative Development, Cde Joice Mujuru, said the workplace was the centre of much controversy where one could be exploited in many ways. Twenty-two ZCTU women are attending a research training workshop to discuss problems faced by women at work and at home. The principal objective of the 10-day course, which entered its eighth day yesterday was to equip female unionists the basic research skills.

The participants were from 12 different national unions. In a speech read on her behalf by the secretary in the ministry, Cde Tendai Bare, Cde Mujuru said women were regarded as undeserving of equal respect and by nature inferior. Cases concerning sexual abuse were under-reported.

“This tendency is attributable to the perception by victims of sexual abuse that if they complain, they will either be risking reprisals and justice will not be obtained through the legal system.”

After going through this traumatic experience, the victims in turn will be left to prove it, she said. In other cases, women were promoted after they had agreed to sexual advances from their employers.

“The most vulnerable groups of employees are the secretaries, in particular private secretaries,” she said.

Cde Mujuru said the victims usually did not complain because their credibility was doubted. She said there would be no witnesses to provide evidence to what would have happened.

The ZCTU women would encourage trade unions, workers’ committees and other bodies to set up reporting systems and counselling facilities within organisations.

Cde Mujuru told the participants to embark on publicity and education campaigns to create awareness in the workforce. Panel interviews should be encouraged rather than private, and these should include women.

The workshop, which ends tomorrow, is being organised by the women’s desk in the ZCTU and this is their first course of this nature since the section was established in 1985.

 LESSONS FOR TODAY

• Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual advances that makes someone feel upset, scared, offended or humiliated, or is meant to make them feel that way. The practice affects both men and women although the latter are the most affected.
• Sexual harassment comes in various forms. It can be verbal or written, physical or visual.
• Sexual harassment is treated seriously in the country. It is classified as one of the “unfair labour practices” and an employer can be held liable for civil remedies only.
• The Labour Act prohibits sexual harassment at the workplace. Most companies have sexual harassment policies to prevent such cases.
• In December 2021 the High Court delivered a ground-breaking judgment that stated that a woman, sexually harassed at work, is entitled to damages.