ZGC Chairperson Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe
By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has launched a National Inquiry into sexual harassment in higher and tertiary institutions, citing a sharp rise in complaints from students and staff.
The initiative, unveiled yesterday at Harare Polytechnic College, seeks to uncover systemic causes and recommend reforms to ensure safe learning environments.
Speaking at the launch, ZGC Chairperson Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe described the inquiry as “a crucial milestone in our collective commitment to ensuring safe and dignified educational environments for all students and staff within our higher education sector.”
She revealed that the commission has recorded a surge in sexual harassment reports, with cases from tertiary institutions constituting the majority.
“These stories are not just numbers; they are voices pleading for recognition, justice, and change. Each report represents a life disrupted, a future jeopardized, and a community that has been let down,” she said.
The inquiry is backed by Section 246 of the Constitution, which mandates the ZGC to safeguard gender equality, and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act [Chapter 10:31], which empowers the body to investigate systemic barriers to gender equity.
Mukahanana-Sangarwe stressed that the probe would go beyond individual incidents to interrogate institutional cultures, policies, and practices that allow harassment to thrive.
“Our investigation will shed light on how institutional cultures, policies, and practices may inadvertently perpetuate environments where harassment can thrive. This proactive approach is crucial for fostering long-term change,” she said.
The inquiry will collect data on the prevalence of sexual harassment, assess how institutions respond to cases, identify policy gaps, and propose reforms.
Civil society leaders, student unions, and government ministries attended the launch, with calls for collective participation. Mukahanana-Sangarwe urged all stakeholders to “freely engage, share our views and put forward practical interventions and recommendations towards addressing this vice.”
The ZGC also commended the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education for developing a Model Sexual Harassment Policy as a framework for institutions to strengthen reporting systems and protective measures.
“Education is meant to empower, inspire, and uplift. It is unacceptable that our institutions, which should be sanctuaries of learning and growth, have become places where harassment undermines this mission,” Mukahanana-Sangarwe concluded, officially declaring the National Inquiry open.
