WOMEN and Law in Southern Africa Zimbabwe (WLSA) has petitioned the Primary and Secondary Education ministry and the Public Service Commission (PSC) over continued harassment of female teachers in the workplace.
This follows a harrowing incident in which 16 female teachers were subjected to indecent scrutiny by a senior staff member at a school in Nkayi, accusing them of messing a toilet.
In a letter dated July 8 addressed to Primary and Secondary Education ministry permanent secretary, PSC chairperson and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, WLSA registered its displeasure over the incident.
“We write to register our displeasure over the disturbing incident that involved 16 female teachers in Nkayi,” the petition read.
“Different social media platforms have in the past days reported on how 16 female teachers were forced to strip naked and be inspected by a school senior staffer as a result of a soiled toilet.”
The women’s rights group said the levels of disrespect had reached alarming levels, therefore, required urgent intervention.
“As WLSA, we are deeply concerned by this incident, especially as it follows on the heels of another unfortunate case of discrimination against a female teacher on tribal grounds, further highlighting the prevalence of abuse and discrimination against women in the public sector and the wider workplace.”
Recently, former Higher and Tertiary Education deputy minister Simelisizwe Sibanda was fired from the position by President Emmerson Mnangagwa over victimisation of a female teacher on tribal grounds in Bubi, Matabeleland North province.
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“Female teachers deserve to feel safe, respected and empowered in their workplaces. We believe it is your constitutional obligation to ensure personal security and dignity of female teachers in the workplace.
“Any form of discrimination and harassment of women in the workplace is contemptible and should be dealt with the contempt it deserves,” WLSA added.
It further demanded that the respective offices instigate a thorough investigation into the incident and the staffer responsible be held accountable.
“We believe it is now urgent that your offices investigate into the realities of female teachers’ working life, to ensure that there is no gender-based violence in the workplace, and female teachers are free from all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence.
“As women rights organisations and citizens of Zimbabwe, we expect your office to urgently and adequately address this incident.”
Since 2021 to date, women lawyers have been demanding that local authorities should craft sexual harassment policies to curb the scourge at their workplaces.
