Regional drive to shield female journalists

CHENGETAI MURIMWA

 

Female journalists from across Southern Africa have launched a regional campaign to tackle the threats and harassment they face on the job, marking a significant push to create safer working conditions for women in the media.

 

The initiative, led by Gender and Media Connect (GMC), was launched this week during a two-day strategy meeting in Johannesburg. It brought together journalists, legal experts, and media rights advocates from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop a safety and legal protection framework that directly addresses the risks women face in the field and in newsrooms.

 

The initiative comes amid rising reports of gender-based harassment, sexual violence, digital abuse, and discrimination against women journalists—often with little recourse or institutional support.

 

Patience Zirima, National Director of GMC, said the campaign was not only a response to ongoing abuses, but also a call for structural reform in Southern Africa’s media landscape.

 

“Women in journalism across our region are working under threat—harassed, silenced, and often unprotected by existing systems,” said Zirima. “This initiative is not just about protection; it’s about affirmation. We are saying that their voices matter and must be safeguarded.”

 

Participants of the Johannesburg meeting outlined several key outcomes, including the formation of regional legal aid networks, training on workplace rights and digital safety, and joint advocacy to push for gender-sensitive media policies.

 

For many female journalists at the meeting, the initiative was both timely and personal.

 

Fatima Juma, a radio reporter from Mozambique, shared her experience of persistent harassment in her newsroom. “We’ve normalized abuse for far too long. This initiative is a lifeline—not just for our safety but for our dignity as professionals.”

 

Thandiwe Ndlovu, a freelance journalist from Zimbabwe, said she often feels vulnerable when reporting on politically sensitive issues. “Knowing that there will be legal backing and a regional sisterhood standing with me means I can pursue difficult stories without feeling isolated or unsafe,” she said.

 

GMC plans to expand the initiative across more countries in the region, with long-term goals of embedding gender-responsive policies in media institutions and holding perpetrators of harassment accountable.

 

“This is just the beginning,” Zirima added. “We are building a united front where no woman journalist has to suffer in silence.”

Related