SEXUAL HARRASMENT FOR WOMEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE -TANZANIA

          Sexual harassment in different public offices has been a great challenge facing women especially the first appointment one  .Various studies that are done concentrates on women who are in rural areas and those employed in public offices are not considered. According to my experience and information from different women blaming heads of department for their behavior of harassing them sexually I were to take initiative to interview women who have experienced such harassment and positions of men who are commonly known for that  injustice behavior.

         The methods I used to get information from  different respondents were to interview women from two departments such as health and community Development. The reason for using these departments is due to the fact that those two are the  leading to have employed more women in comparison with other departments. I took 6 women from  Community Development  and 6 women from Health department  in one of the district in Tanga regeion. Then the information I got used to be terms of reference from other two district in different region. 

        The findings in this research were firstly attributed on the group that is highly affected between the new women employee and the old one. The second point of observation was the positions of men in public offices who have  more preference in harassing women. The third one was the pressure that makes women to accept harassment and their silence of not reporting   anywhere once they are sexually harassed.

         For the group which is highly affected the new employee women were found to be the victim of sexual harassment when compared with the old one at a certain working place. The reason is that because of being tranger, perpetrators of women rights sticks on new comers and every perpetrator struggles to be the first in having sex with new employees. After comparative analysis with other districts in Tanzania this was found to be the same  in many areas particularly where heads of departments are men. Bad enough  after having gone with a women perpetrator are proud themselves as they think it is prestige to have sex with new employee.

          The position for the perpetrators of w omen's rights most of them are heads of departments and units who are supervisors of new employees and the one responsible for placing them into working stations.According to women interviewed the findings shows that  every one said were approached by average of  five heads of departments. This situation is terrible and endangering the health of women especially new entrants in public offices in different districts in Tanzania. Human resources officers are found to be the leading in practicing such  unbelievable acts when comparing with other heads of departments. Despite the legislation of special act to monitor the  behavior of public servants which make illegal the use of position for sexual gain.

          The expression from women interviewed said that at the time of their reporting time different heads of departments called them through their phone and directed them to specific guest house promising to pay for them all costs because new employee  in most cases are the strangers in areas where are placed at the first time. Others called upon new entrants in employment to accept them sexually so that their allowance could be paid fast so as to rescue them from living in hard condition. According to guidelines of employment in Tanzania depending on your salary level , a person is to be paid seven days  allowances which in some areas are  intentionally paid late or not paid totally. This makes the environment for some heads of departments and units to influence women to be sexually harassed.

       According to evidence from respondents interviewed most of women said that despite of those illegal acts done to them they keep silence because first they expect to be placed in good working station especially town areas. The nature of geography in rural areas it is to terrible-not attractive for new entrants of employment  due to the fact that most of them where brought up in rural areas and experiencing hardship of important services. Therefore they keep silence in spite of being sexually harassed so as to enjoy innovative and digitalized services that are predominant in town areas.

           Also others said that keep silence because  it is difficult to report they bosses as there is no clear confidentiality mechanism that can protect them.Once bosses are  aware of some one being reported for sexual harassment may recommend poorly in their files that can affect status for promotion. For others to make cheap themselves in the eyes of the boss they think of having much privilage in the offices which many have proved  being  betrayed by their boss when are not fulfilled. Most of bosses after enjoying sexuall rewards they change their minds-no long needs to continue with relationship.

'My friend sexual harassment for us (women) is very high. You can not believe these heads of departments who are highly respected they have behavior that devalue their position and makes us (women) not respect them. There men who are very common in harassing every new employee (woman)' These are words from one of respondents during the interview.

  Those facts above were found to have occurred in  many  local government  offices in Tanzania. I tried to conduct comparative analysis with my friends especially women who have newly employed in public service in Tanzania. Although this study was conducted in public sector it does not mean that women in private sector are safe. Women are exposed in different harassment from interview and appointment for the job. I call upon women activist to have increased and re innovating intervention approaches that can integrate  safety of all women wherever they are.
    Prepared by G.Vedasto
     Social welfare consultant
     gkanjara@gmail.com
     0789915677