End sexual harassment now!

                    By Melody Gwenyambira

Men and women from different walks of life have put their mark on the public sphere calling for an end to harassment of women in public places, in the home and in workplaces.

The first ever Women’s Arts Festival preluded to the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence unveiled a mural painted on the public toilet at Copacabana terminus.

WAFEST decided on Copacabana due to the high instances of sexual harassment of women that go on there on a daily basis.

H-Metro spent some time at the busy terminus and witnessed touts harassing women.

“These women are not dressed properly. They are showing us their legs and we can even see their panties. Isu hatidi vakadzi vanopfeka kunge pfambi. Ngavaiite zvisvinhu,” one guy identified as Thambi said

Some women have had their clothes ripped apart. Some taxi drivers have been kind enough to open their doors and let these women in and drive them to safety.

“Hativarove hedu asi tikavaseka nekusvereredza vanoiita bho and havazozviite futi,” Jephfat Makanda a kombi driver said.

Jephfat’harassment is justified by myths and misinformation. These myths create a vicious circle and they are used to excuse harassers and blame the harassed, and excuses and mislaid blame are reinforcing the idea that sexual harassment is acceptable, forgivable, manly, ‘cool’, or the fault of the harassed.

 As a result, many people who witness harassment choose not to react or intervene. And with no consequences, harassers are only encouraged to act again and again.

It does not have to be this way.

According to Wikipedia Sexual harassment is any form of unwelcome words and/or actions of a sexual nature that violate a person’s body, privacy, or feelings and make that person feel uncomfortable, threatened, insecure, scared, disrespected, startled, insulted, intimidated, abused, offended, or objectified.

Section 52 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No 20 of 2013 provides for the Right to personal security.

Sub section A states that every person has the right to freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources.

Sexual harassment is never the fault of the harassed. To harass someone is a choice the harasser makes and regardless of what the harassed is wearing or doing, and this is never an excuse for harassment. It is easy the harassed is never, partially or fully, responsible for any sexual harassment that they are subjected to.

WAFEST on the other end has decided to reveal the real challenges faced by women that can be overcome if communities act against these atrocities.

“The initiative is based on a belief in cultural and creative expression as a means to affect deep and lasting social change.  Through art, the Festival is seeking to challenge many of society's deepest assumptions, built upon the power of artistic creation and expression to spark new ideas, catalyze critical thinking, elicit new actions, inspire individuals and create visions,” Lyneth Mtemeri the festival coordinator said.

The inaugural festival was held under the theme Challenging the visible, discovering the invisible.

The event was held at Alliance Française last Saturday before it moved to Copacabana Terminus. The festival signifies a continuation of efforts towards enhancing and empowering women and am proud to be part of the first edition” said Edith WeUtonga.

“The initiative is inspired by the belief that violence against women is a coward hiding its face in the makeup of silence and only when we begin to challenge these visible structures of violence do we truly discover the true and female parliamentarians are expected to attend. In highlighting the plight of women through the arts, the festival aims to make the campaign against gender based violence a 365 days a year campaign. Young Voices Network hopes to make this festival an annual event,” Lyneth added.