Parliamentary inquiry finds rampant ‘thigh for marks’ abuses

A Zimbabwean parliamentary probe has unearthed rampant sexual harassment at universities and tertiary education institutions in the country that, it says, is fuelled by drug abuse and lecturers demanding sex in exchange for high marks.

The Joint Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development as well as on Women Affairs conducted the enquiry.

Two teams visited 15 institutions to ascertain the prevalence of sexual gender-based violence and sexual harassment, assess the challenges institutions of higher and tertiary education are facing in curbing sexual gender-based violence and sexual harassment and to gather input from students on the sexual harassment challenges they face as well as remedial measures.

The universities, polytechnics and teacher training colleges that were visited include the University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Chinhoyi University of Technology, Bindura University of Science Education, Africa University, the Harare Institute of Technology, the polytechnics of Harare, Kwekwe and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, and the teachers’ colleges of Hillside, Mkoba, Belvedere Technical and Mutare.

Sexual harassment prevalent

In its report, which was tabled in the National Assembly on 4 May, the joint committee said the physical forms of sexual harassment students suffer in universities and colleges include sexual touching, hugging and kissing; physical assault and attempted rape.

Non-physical forms of sexual harassment are sexual comments, jokes, songs, whistles about body and dressing, threats and intimidation about failing courses, pressure for sex, cyber bullying, sexual advances, sexual gifts and spreading sexual rumours or lies.

“It was highlighted by both students and staff that sexual harassment was highly prevalent in the institutions of higher learning.

“Between the students, the most pervasive form of sexual harassment was verbal, while physical sexual harassment was more prevalent between the staff and students,” the report said.

“The high prevalence of sexual harassment in institutions of higher learning was attributed to the rising poverty level and substance abuse among students.

“Additionally, because there was inadequate on-campus accommodation, most students were staying off-campus and this exposed them to sexual harassment from their landlords and guardians as well as the community in general.”

One student at one of the universities visited recounted an event when a lecturer requested to meet her very early in the morning to give her learning materials.

She pointed out that, during the meeting, the lecturer proposed love to her but she turned him down and the lecturer threatened to make her fail the module he was teaching.

Mistrust in reporting structures

Most, particularly the female staff and students, were apprehensive in reporting cases because of the reporting structures.

In most of the policies, a student is supposed to report to a chair or dean, who might be the perpetrator or a colleague of the perpetrator.

Other students expressed their mistrust in the reporting structures, noting that the disciplinary committees were comprised of the perpetrators or colleagues of the perpetrators of sexual harassment.

The report said most of the staff and students feared victimisation and stigmatisation that usually followed issues of sexual harassment.

In cases where reports were received, male students would report on behalf of the female students and the female students were reluctant to follow up on the case.

The report also said universities did not have standalone sexual harassment policies and, in the majority of the institutions, the issues were incorporated in the student charter, life skills manual and student advisory committee.

In most institutions, the majority of staff members and students also professed ignorance about the existence of the sexual harassment policies and their contents.

“It was alleged that most lecturers would suggest what was colloquially referred to as ‘thigh for a mark’ if the student wanted to pass and graduate with a diploma.

The students said that, due to the power dynamics that exist between the staff member and the student, the students were apprehensive to report such cases, the report said.

At Harare Polytechnic, the students pointed out that they were afraid of reporting sexual harassment cases because of fear of failure.

They reiterated that 60% of their overall assessment marks comes from the continuous assessment tests which are marked by the lecturer and, hence, they cannot possibly open cases of sexual harassment against their lecturers.

Another student pointed out that, during supervision of projects, some lecturers ask for money so that they can give the student a rewrite or a higher mark.

Other lecturers submitted that students were provocative by the way they sat in face-to-face lectures, while others sent pornographic content on WhatsApp chat groups that were being used by lecturers to deliver their education-related content and information.

The report said some lecturers viewed students as consenting adults capable of making rational decisions, despite other factors that might compromise their ability to decide and act rationally, and that this had contributed to the prevalence of sexual harassment.

“Essentially, it was highlighted that these lecturers and staff members deliberately disregarded the in loco parentis principle as far as students are concerned,” the report added.

Interventions

However, at a handful of institutions, such as the National University of Science and Technology, some steps were being taken to raise awareness on sexual harassment issues.

These interventions included online surveys to gauge the awareness on sexual harassment.

In an interview with University World News Sandra Matendere, the director of the Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust, said the most common sexual abuse in tertiary institutions is ‘sex for marks’ which can be classified as a form of corruption as it involves abuse of power for personal gains and also use of sex in exchange for good marks.

She said Zimbabwe must put in place robust sexual harassment legislation which will protect women from being sexually harassed, for whatever reason.

“Sexual harassment of female students by their lecturers is a serious problem which has been going on for a long time, but it is under-reported.

“The main reasons for sexual harassment in tertiary institutions are related to power dynamics where the lecturers have power to influence the students’ results. This leaves the students at the mercy of the lecturer because everyone’s dream is to get good marks and to proceed to the next level,” she said.

“Students who experience sexual harassment end up enduring the abuse or leave the college quietly without making a report. The stigma and victimisation associated with reporting sexual offences makes it hard for the victims to report.

“Another challenge is that of patriarchal society beliefs where people start blaming the victim instead of assisting her. Students who encounter sexual harassment experience low self-esteem, which will negatively impact on their overall performance.”

In a separate interview, Desire Kateyera, the NUST Choice Champions information officer, said some lecturers intentionally trap female students through giving them low marks and threatening them with low grades at times.

She said that, as a result, some students give in and have sex with the lecturers in exchange for good grades that these lecturers promise in exchange.

“Sexual harassment among students themselves [is] sometimes lack of awareness on forms of sexual harassment. Some are ignorant as they make comments, jokes or even physical advances that are unwelcome,” she said.

“There is a need to have policies that protect the victim and, at the same time, create a friendly confidential environment for victims to speak out,” she added.

Langelihle Moyo, a student leader and a sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate, said the economic crisis was also contributing to rising sexual harassment.

“We cannot afford to fail because our parents are struggling to pay and our lecturers know that when I am threatened with marks ... I am likely to succumb,” she said.

Moyo said perpetrators know that they are likely to get away with it, so why not?

She also raised the issue of ignorance, saying some harassers genuinely do not know what they are doing. The student leader said the solution is to have a sexual harassment policy that is widely marketed and students and staff actually know about.

On a long-term solution, Moyo said: “Name, shame and prosecute perpetrators. Suspend them from work or lectures if necessary. Come up with an ‘easy’, clear and transparent reporting pathway for people to report.

“Awareness-raising: let’s come up with ads on the portal saying: ‘Is one of our staff members harassing you? Talk to us’, to be able to report anonymously.”


COMMENT

Raj Nair on the University World News Facebook page: This may not be exclusive to Zimbabwe. This is a universal problem. Many HEIs across the world have reported such exploitation of female students. In India too, many female students, especially research scholars (PhD) are subjected to such human rights violations. Unless stringent actions are taken against erring teachers/thesis supervisors and university administrators, who turn a blind eye to such complaints, by the respective governments, female students would continue to be at the receiving end. It is time to end this exploitation. Earlier, the better!