Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe government has introduced a comprehensive model and benchmarking policy on Anti-Sexual Harassment for Higher Education Institutions.
The policy, launched on Wednesday by the Ministry of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, aims to transform academic culture and create safe, inclusive, and empowering learning environments across the country.
“Sexual harassment in institutions of higher and tertiary education is a gross violation of human rights. It erodes academic freedom, distorts power relations, and creates climates of fear, silence, and exclusion, particularly for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. This policy is a moral imperative to reshape our academic culture,” said Minister of Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Fredrik Shava.
Sexual harassment is a significant problem in Zimbabwean higher education institutions, with studies indicating it is widespread and often unreported.
Both students and staff experience harassment and it can take various forms, including verbal and physical harassment, as well as instances of inappropriate relationships between lecturers and students.
Under-reporting is common due to fear of retaliation, lack of awareness about policies, and inadequate grievance handling procedures.
“It is deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable that spaces designed for intellectual freedom and personal growth have, for some reason, become environments of intimidation and harm. Too often victims are forced into silence, crippled by fear of reprisal and overwhelmed by stigma and let down by inadequate support systems,” said Shava.
According to Shava, the policy introduces a comprehensive and enforceable framework, defining sexual harassment, setting up accessible and confidential reporting mechanisms, and establishing clear accountability structures within higher education institutions.
It also promotes awareness and prevention education, provides survivor support services, and ensures fair and transparent disciplinary processes.
“It provides survivor support services and it ensures that disciplinary processes are fair, are transparent and are consistently applied.
Institutions will be expected to use this model policy and the benchmark to develop their own context specific policies, which while maintaining compliance with the minimum standards of outline hearing are enforceable,” he said.
Notably, the policy is aligned with the Zimbabwean Constitution, international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5, which focus on quality education and gender equality, respectively.
The policy encourages higher education institutions to develop their own context-specific policies while maintaining compliance with the minimum standards outlined in the model.
New Ziana
