By Nyasha Dube
Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) on Friday lit up the bustling city of Harare with a fun, educational and life changing Gender Media Conference, the first of its kind to be hosted by the organization under the theme “Breaking the glass ceiling”.
Over 200 alumni womentees of the FNF For Freedom Womentorship program from across Zimbabwe gathered to tap into the vibrant oasis of empowerment, wisdom and inspiration of the female trailblazers in the media industry.
The event was graced by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Honourable Jenfan Muswere, who showed solidarity with women in media, who face a number of barriers on their way to the top.
“The biggest challenge facing women in media is sexual harassment. As government we are working towards ensuring the protection of the rights and freedoms of journalists as provided by the constitution of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission as well as the Zimbabwe Media Commission are there to take care of the rights of journalists. We are also in the process of enacting the Sexual Harassment Policy, and the consultation process is already at an advanced stage,” said Minister Muswere.
He added that the appointment of women on top positions such as Prosecutor General and Attorney General speak to governments efforts to have more women in leadership spaces and inspire the girl child stating that a safe and secure workplace is the ministry’s priority and acknowledging the work FNF has done in empowering young female journalists.
FNF Programme Manager Fungisai Sithole shared the Womentorship journey of overcoming obstacles and achieving success since 2020. Her words resonated deeply with the attendees, igniting a spark within each woman, reminding them of their own strength and potential.
“The journey requires us to move out of our comfort zones. We need to start choosing sacrifice over convenience,” said Sithole.
In attendance as well was Harare Deputy Mayor Her Worship Kudzai Kadzombe, various government Chapter 12 commissions, Parliamentary Portfolio committees among other stakeholders.
Throughout the day, various interactive sessions were held, covering a wide range of topics.
Gender Media Connect (GMC) National Director Patience Zirima shared findings from their research study on the State of Media Freedom in Zimbabwe, highlighting the need to close the gender gap in higher positions, develop progressive gender policies as well as adopt a multisectorial approach towards promoting gender equality in newsrooms.
Some womentees also shared how FNF empowered them to aim higher and go for leadership positions at their respective workplaces.
Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba, also launced the book “Coming out of the Shadows: The untold stories of sexual harassment in Zimbabwe’s media”, a series of stories of resilience which not only provoke emotions of sadness because of the abuse female journalists are facing in their workplaces, but also serve as a guide to deal with sexual harassment, from reporting the case to handling the emotional and psychological impacts.
As the day progressed, a panel discussion on Breaking the Glass Ceiling took place, featuring trailblazers in the media industry. Sitting on the panel were Zaba, as well as Sunday Mail editor Victoria Ruzvidzo and Daily News Deputy managing editor Annie Mpalume. They shared their experiences, challenges, and triumphs, inspiring womentees with their wisdom and resilience on the session facilitated by Grace Chirenje. The panel discussion sparked a sense of unity and sisterhood, as womentees realized the power of supporting one another as they climb the ladder.
In the evening, the conference transformed into a networking session. A grand cocktail was held, where attendees adorned themselves in elegant attire, exuding confidence and grace to discuss the struggles and successes of women in media.