She told The Zimbabwean that most student representative councils at tertiary institutions were dominated by males, because women lacked interest.
“We can only eradicate violence and sexual harassment within these institutions if female students are prepared to take up positions in student representative councils and work with a collective voice.
“I have been encouraging female students to take leadership positions but they fear victimisation. Most people have a misconception about the SRC – they think it is political board, but in reality it is supposed to engage students in learning about democracy and leadership while advocating for better conditions at learning institutions,” she said.
Since 2011 the Female Students Network has created a network of more than 20,000 female students whom it seeks to empower through capacity-building in civic education and good governance. “Sexual harassment and violence against female students is still rampant in colleges because female students have failed to stamp their authority. So there is no-one to take their issues on board because the male counterparts have different needs,” she said.
“We have been working with deans of students at all the tertiary institutions to ensure that the female student’s concerns are raised,” she added.
Many female students are beaten by their partners and fail to report the abuse to the police.
“This network has helped the female students to open up – but we always have difficulties when we want to report the cases to the police. The students are quick to protect the offenders,” Munando said. The desperate shortage of accommodation at colleges is the main reason for widespread abuse of female students.
“Many women are forced to co-habit with their male counterparts to cut expenses and they are abused in the process. Lack of adequate water is also a major problem. Female students are even arrested for loitering when they go out in search of water after hours,” she said.
Post published in: News