Corruption in the health and education sectors is worsening gender inequality and denying women, girls and vulnerable groups access to safe and fair services.
The concerns were raised on Wednesday at a Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) roundtable meeting in Bulawayo, which brought together journalists, media trainers, civil society leaders and activists to examine the intersection of corruption and discrimination.
Journalist and media trainer Dr Lulu Brenda Harris said corruption was more than a financial crime.
“For many women, it determines whether they live or die,” she said. “When a mother cannot access treatment because she does not have money for a bribe, that is the reality women face in our clinics.”
Dr Harris cited cases where women living with HIV were forced to pay bribes for access to antiretroviral treatment, sometimes waiting months for medication. She said such delays had led to preventable mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
She also pointed to abuses in the education sector, where female students were coerced into sexual favours to pass exams and some female teachers faced pressure to trade sex for promotions.
“This is not only exploitation, it is also the destruction of merit,” she said. “Girls cannot learn in safe spaces, and teachers are judged by what they can give, not by their hard work.”
Media and information literacy trainer Nonhlanhla Mabhikwa said corruption had a gendered impact that the media could not afford to ignore.
“Corruption affects women and men differently. It makes existing inequalities worse, so the media and advocacy groups must show these impacts and demand accountability,” she said.
She urged journalists to adopt gender-sensitive and inclusive reporting practices that make women and marginalised groups visible as subjects, sources and experts.
“The language we use shapes how society understands the impact of corruption,” she said. “When women’s voices are missing, their struggles remain invisible. But when they are heard, it strengthens democracy and accountability.”
Mabhikwa also warned against stereotypes that silence survivors of sextortion or abuse linked to corruption, stressing that journalism has the power to protect rights and challenge discrimination.
The roundtable concluded with a call for the media to dig deeper, humanise corruption stories, and highlight the lived experiences of women, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Participants agreed that investigative journalism remains one of the strongest tools to expose abuse, pressure policymakers and strengthen service delivery.
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