Zimbabweans Demand Greater Protection for Women and Girls Against Discrimination and Harassment
A staggering eight in ten citizens in Zimbabwe believe that the police and courts should do more to safeguard women and girls from discrimination and harassment. This sentiment is echoed in a recent survey that highlights the persistent gender disparities in the country. Despite progress in recognizing and protecting women’s rights, Zimbabwean women continue to face significant barriers in education, employment, and politics.
The survey reveals that women are less likely than men to have progressed to post-secondary education, with only 18% of women having done so compared to 25% of men. Furthermore, one in ten respondents reported that families still prioritize boys’ education over girls’, while one in five citizens said that schoolgirls often face discrimination, harassment, and requests for sexual favors from their teachers.
In the workforce, women are less likely to be in paid employment than men, with 40% of men having full-time or part-time jobs compared to 26% of women. Women also face significant barriers in advancing their careers, with a lack of education or skills, lack of childcare, and social norms that deem it unacceptable for women to work outside the home being major obstacles.
The survey also found that one in four Zimbabweans believe that women often experience sexual harassment in public spaces, while two-thirds of citizens say that women and girls are likely to be believed if they report discrimination or harassment to the authorities. However, a strong majority of 80% of respondents believe that the police and courts need to do more to protect women and girls from discrimination and harassment.
In terms of political representation, women are underrepresented in Zimbabwe’s National Assembly, holding only 28.9% of seats despite a quota system that reserves 60 seats for women. The survey found that three-quarters of Zimbabweans support women’s equal chance of being elected to public office, but men are significantly less likely than women to endorse gender fairness in politics.
As the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals emphasize, gender equality is a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Zimbabwe’s government has made progress in recognizing and protecting women’s rights, but more needs to be done to address the persistent gender disparities in the country. The citizens’ perspective offered by Afrobarometer’s survey findings highlights the need for greater protection and empowerment of women and girls in Zimbabwe.
