STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2022 to respond to questions from media advocacy groups on the possible breach of privacy.(13) GENDER AND THE MEDIA Female journalists find themselves on the periphery of senior positions in media houses and in the mainstream media, only two newspapers have female editors, namely the Zimbabwe Independent and the Sunday Mail. A female managing editor was appointed by The Herald and the state broadcaster, ZBC, is headed by a female chief executive officer. A 2022 report by Women in News indicated that in media houses in Zimbabwe, only 12 percent had a female business lead, while 18 percent of the media houses had a female as editorial lead. The study surveyed 15 media organisations — nine of them were described as top outlets and six start-ups they described as “others of interest”.(14) Despite advocacy on the need to ensure there are more female journalists in senior management positions, the media sector remains largely male dominated. One of the reasons cited for the lack of female journalists in editorial positions is what has been described as rampant sexual abuse of female journalists. Research has shown that women in the media are subject to sexual harassment which mostly goes unreported as they fear being stigmatised and losing their jobs. The Women in News report states that, globally, at least 40 percent of the female journalists that responded to their survey have been sexually harassed in the workplace. However, despite this high number, only 20 percent of victims of sexual harassment have reported these cases. The low number of reported cases was due to either fear of reprisals, fear of loss of jobs or AMH journalists Chengeto Chidi (right) and Blessed Mhlanga were arrested for allegedly taking pictures within a polling sta�on 70