Two feminist groups kicked off a big protest campaign at Rezende Rank in Harare after a 13-year-old got raped there back in July, and they want the City Council plus police to actually do something about the constant violence and harassment at commuter stations. The Dura Organisation and Loud Silence put up public art and collected stories from women who say touts grope them and threaten them every single day, while authorities just look the other way.
Women using the ranks said the harassment wrecks their mental health because they deal with insults and fear on top of just trying to get home, and vendors complained they watch the abuse happen but can't stop it since the perpetrators brag about having connections. The groups demanded permanent police presence instead of officers just showing up to collect bribes, plus better lighting and cameras, and faster prosecution for survivors.
Everyone agreed that one day of activism won't fix anything if the culture stays the same, so they plan to keep the pressure on until girls can actually travel without budgeting for fear alongside transport costs.
Women using the ranks said the harassment wrecks their mental health because they deal with insults and fear on top of just trying to get home, and vendors complained they watch the abuse happen but can't stop it since the perpetrators brag about having connections. The groups demanded permanent police presence instead of officers just showing up to collect bribes, plus better lighting and cameras, and faster prosecution for survivors.
Everyone agreed that one day of activism won't fix anything if the culture stays the same, so they plan to keep the pressure on until girls can actually travel without budgeting for fear alongside transport costs.
