By Emmaculate Tatenda Kapuya

Harare Polytechnic has launched the Safer Campus Campaign, a comprehensive sexuality education initiative aimed at preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting student well-being.

The campaign, launched on Friday by Acting Principal Deborah Tebogo Ruziwa, is part of a larger regional effort supported by UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Plus (O3Plus) project. The initiative comes in response to findings from a UNESCO study that revealed high rates of GBV in tertiary institutions across Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.

Harare Polytechnic joins several institutions in Zimbabwe and beyond—including the University of Zimbabwe and Manicaland State University—that are implementing similar GBV prevention strategies. Regionally, the Safer Campus initiative has also been rolled out in Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, and Uganda, all with the shared goal of building safer, more respectful learning environments.

Speaking at the launch, Ruziwa emphasised the campaign’s focus on empowerment, awareness, and changing attitudes.

“We aim to challenge societal norms that perpetuate violence and create a supportive environment for victims and survivors,” she said.

Key goals of the campaign include:

• Increasing awareness of referral pathways and whistle-blower mechanisms
• Enhancing student and staff knowledge about GBV
• Promoting positive behavioural change on campus

Students have already begun to feel the campaign’s impact. Charles Chinyami, an Electrical Power student, credited the initiative with reducing GBV incidents:

“We have not recorded GBV cases in recent years, thanks to initiatives like these,” he noted.

Cynthia Mafigu, another student involved in the O3Plus Project, said the experience has been transformational:

“Getting involved in the O3Plus Project has been a confidence booster. I can now stand up for myself and others.”

Mafigu now plays an active role in GBV awareness and peer support at Harare Polytechnic.

The Safer Campus Campaign is designed to be inclusive, providing a supportive environment for students from all walks of life, including those living with disabilities.

“There is increased enrollment because the environment is safe enough to accommodate students with disabilities,” said Ms. Caroline Gambiza, a Life Skills Mentor.

This inclusive approach not only supports students’ mental and emotional well-being but also contributes to the institution’s academic excellence and retention rates.

Harare Polytechnic’s leadership remains resolute in enforcing accountability and ensuring zero tolerance for GBV.

“The major aim of the Safer Campus Campaign is to make sure that our campuses are safe against gender-based violence,” said Mrs. Caroline Chieza, UNESCO Cluster Coordinator for Harare Polytechnic and Harare Institute of Technology (HIT).
“We will hold accountable those found wanting.”

A Safer, Brighter Future for All Students

Through collaborative action and strong leadership, Harare Polytechnic is building a campus culture rooted in respect, safety, and equality. The Safer Campus Campaign is not only changing lives but also setting a precedent for institutions across Africa to prioritize student safety.

As students like Cynthia Mafigu find their voice, and faculty commit to creating supportive systems, the campaign stands as a beacon of hope in the fight against GBV in education.