Addressing gender based violence in workplaces in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s ‘Strategy for the Elimination of Sexual Harassment and Gender-based Violence in the Workplace in Zimbabwe, 2021-2025’ notes that “GBV and sexual harassment is a widespread cancerous scourge at the workplace in Zimbabwe.” This is in spite of multiple international treaties and commitments that obligate member states to prevent workplace gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). Zimbabwe recently committed to ratify the International Labour Organisation’s violence and harassment convention 190 which specifically concerns workplace-GBVH, and has also been a location for the ILO’s Spotlight Initiative and Model Workplace Programme which has made some inroads in addressing the issue.

 

Yet the challenge remains – affecting women’s economic empowerment, social cohesion, productivity etc. – and there remain gaps in understanding where the main hurdles lie and how they can be overcome. The Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) represents the interests of industry associations and large employers across the country and has a mandate to advocate for reforms that will improve business conditions as well as to provide necessary support and direction for its members. Recognising the importance of workplace-GBVH in affecting business performance, and shortcomings in legilsation, enforcement and organisational policies/practices that leave employees vulnerable to incidents, EMCOZ is working to address workplace-GBVH in Zimbabwe.