Women organise ‘mini skirt march’

HARARE – Scores of women dressed in mini skirts and tight fitting clothes on Saturday staged a protest march in Harare against the harassment they are subjected to by touts.

For long women and girls who wear mini skirts or dress skimpily have had their clothes torn, been jeered at and have been embarrassed by touts who claim to hold the Zimbabwean culture in high esteem.

Although these touts have their own short comings and are known for being loud-mouthed and defecate at bus termini, they have subjected women to horrendous treatment and denied them their right to dress as they please.

The mini skirt march is the first of its kind to be held in the country and the women marched bravely with the protection of the police in protest and to send a strong warning to the touts to desist from hurling vulgar words at women.

Women’s rights lobby group Katswe Sistahood director Ms Talent Jumo said women and girls have been suffering for far too long, adding that touts had no right to sexually harass women.

She said her organisation will continue sending the message to the touts advising them not to treat women as second class citizens in their own country.

As the women marched they were given thumps up by some while others looked at them in disgust and called them names.

Some said wearing mini skirts is not part of the Zimbabwean culture, with others saying the march would encourage immoral behaviour which would ultimately fuel sexual harassment and abuse.

The march started at Town House and proceeded to the Market Square and Copacabana bus terminus. ZBC