Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Gender and Media Connect (GMC) has launched a new initiative aimed at safeguarding female journalists throughout southern Africa, addressing the escalating threats they face in their profession.
The initiative responds to widespread issues such as intimidation, arbitrary arrests, sexual harassment and entrenched sexism within newsrooms and during assignments.
The programme was officially introduced at a two-day strategy meeting in Johannesburg, attended by journalists, media professionals and legal experts from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South
Africa.
Participants collaborated to develop practical safety and legal protection mechanisms tailored to the specific challenges confronting women journalists.
GMC national director Patience Zirima criticised the existing system, adding that the initiative was not only about protecting women, but affirming the vital voices of women in media.
“Women in journalism across our region are working under threat, harassed, silenced and often unprotected by existing systems,” she said.
“This initiative is not just about protection; it’s about affirmation. We are saying that their voices matter and must be safeguarded.”
Zirima revealed that the Johannesburg workshop established a collaborative framework that includes the creation of regional legal aid networks, training on workplace rights and digital safety and advocacy for media policies prioritising gender equality and zero tolerance for harassment.
“We are building legal and safety frameworks that reflect their lived realities,” she said.
GMC said it is committed to expanding the initiative’s reach by collaborating with media houses, civil society and legal institutions to foster an environment where female journalists can operate freely and without fear.
“We have normalised abuse in newsrooms for far too long. This initiative is a lifeline — not just for our safety but for our dignity as professionals,” said Fatima Juma, a radio journalist from Mozambique.
Thandiwe Ndhlovu, a freelance journalist from Zimbabwe, said: “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.”
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