BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN GWERU RECENTLY
Journalists from six districts across Zimbabwe have been trained to improve how they report on the dangerous link between gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV, as concerns grow that violence is contributing to new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women.
The training followed mounting community alarm that cases of rape, forced sex, and intimate partner violence are not only destroying lives but also increasing health risks for young females—particularly those who may be unable to access timely care or live with stigma after abuse. Media professionals say reporting on such matters is often handled with insufficient sensitivity, leaving survivors exposed to further harm.
The skills development took place during a two-day media sensitisation workshop in Gweru, organised by the Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH). It was supported through funding from the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Participants drawn from Chimanimani, Umguza, Bindura, Umzingwane, Kwekwe and Masvingo district were brought together to strengthen their understanding of how GBV and HIV intersect, and to ensure that coverage of the subject supports public health goals while respecting the rights and dignity of survivors.
A major focus of the workshop was introducing the Start, Awareness, Support, Action (SASA!) community mobilisation approach. SASA! is an evidence-based programme designed to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing harmful power imbalances in households and communities. It also aims to reduce HIV vulnerability by treating violence as a key driver of risk.
ZACH officials told the journalists that irresponsible coverage can discourage victims from seeking help, while ethical reporting can encourage disclosure, push for accountability, and promote community prevention efforts.
Speaking at the workshop, ZACH Communications and Advocacy Technical Advisor, Shamiso Yikoniko, said the media has a powerful influence on public attitudes and can either reinforce stigma or help create informed conversations that protect survivors.
“Media has a crucial role in shaping public attitudes and promoting positive social change,” she said. “It is important for us as ZACH to work closely with journalists so they can help us spread these messages across different communities.”
Yikoniko urged journalists to adopt survivor-centred reporting, using language that empowers victims rather than sensationalising their suffering. She emphasised confidentiality, including protecting identities and ensuring children are not exposed through details that could identify them.
She also highlighted the importance of informed consent, reminding journalists that survivors must not be pressured to speak on camera or provide interviews that put them at risk.
“Responsible journalism can promote healing, encourage reporting of abuse and strengthen community efforts to prevent violence,” she said.
ZACH Programme Manager Dr Chidzewere Nzou explained that SASA! is supported by a wider system of care for survivors. He said victims are linked to One Stop Centres, where they receive comprehensive services that may include medical assistance, HIV prevention and testing, psychosocial counselling, legal support, and referrals to other necessary services.
Dr Nzou said this integrated approach matters because survivors often require urgent help on multiple levels. “Integrating health, psychosocial and legal interventions ensures survivors receive timely assistance while helping communities break the cycle of violence that increases the risk of HIV infection,” he said.
The workshop also stressed collaboration beyond media outlets. Participants were encouraged to work with health professionals, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations and community members to prevent violence and create safer reporting pathways.
Journalists who attended the training said the session improved their ability to cover the GBV-HIV link accurately and compassionately. They pledged to apply what they learned by producing responsible stories that raise awareness and promote behaviour change, while keeping survivors’ dignity and privacy intact.
As they returned to their districts, participants said they would focus on localising SASA! messaging and reporting responsibly—helping communities understand that violence is not only a human rights violation, but also a threat to public health, including HIV prevention efforts for young women.
The initiative signals continued momentum for partnerships between civil society, health institutions and the media to protect survivors and curb new HIV infections driven by gender-based violence.