Name and shame perpetrators of sexual harassment, gender abuse

woman in Harare recently came out accusing two young film producers of sexual harassment. Her story has been in the media and has also been the hot topic in most arts WhatsApp groups. As in most sexual harassment cases there are always two sides. In the Harare case there is a lot that has been said about the young woman, especially in an attempt to character assassinate her. However, the worst response on gender abuse I have ever heard came from one Vusa Blacks. Remember Vusa Blacks is one of the leading and most talented music videos editors in the country. He has worked with top artistes like Jah Prayzah and Ammara Brown. Responding to the sexual harassment story and in defence of the two film producers Vusa Blacks accuses the young lady of being ‘‘too beautiful and having a vagina’’. He warns the young woman that most men, including him, would definitely want to sleep with her. Now that’s a truckload of bull. Vusa Blacks must not be allowed to smoke whatever herbs he was smoking on the day he made that statement. I think with his statement Blacks took the arts sector 20 years back. It was a barbaric statement that needs to be condemned by all who believe in the development of the arts in Zimbabwe.

I think there is a lot of abuse in the arts sector. However, the abuse is not only confined to sexual abuse. There is a lot of general abuse. Most people who work in the sector, men or women, are abused. Most work for nothing, they are paid nothing. Those lucky enough to get paid sometimes wait for months, if not years to get their money. Most work under extreme conditions — no breakfast or lunch, no protection or insurance in case of injury or loss of life. Most provide their own transport, to and from work. Most bring their own clothes and never get paid for using their own costumes or props. Most work, not knowing what they are working for. If this is not abuse and slavery, then I don’t know what is. It is this scenario that then make a lot of young ladies who want to work in the arts, and film in particular, vulnerable. There are a few opportunities in the sector and those controlling them are men, who then try to take advantage of young girls. To be honest sexual harassment in the sector must be condemned with the contempt it deserves and sexual perverts in the sector must be named and shamed.