In 2017, two years after graduating without a job, Furaha Msami landed a six-month paid traineeship at a private company in Dar es Salaam, hoping to secure a full-time position. But soon after starting, her departmental manager – an older man – began making unwelcome advances.
When rejection didn’t work, his attitude shifted. He became harsh, unhelpful, and angry. “At first, I thought he was just tough on me professionally,” she says. “Then he hinted that I’d be ‘lucky’ to secure the job that other trainees were competing for. That’s when I reported him.”
His superiors warned him, but the retaliation was swift. He cut off communication, turned colleagues against her, and made the office unbearable. Msami requested a new supervisor and was reassigned to a woman. “It was a relief, but I still felt like an outcast. Some staff saw me as a snitch.”
Despite excelling in her role, Msami wasn’t offered a contract. A colleague later confirmed her suspicions that rejecting her boss had cost her the job. “A week or so after leaving, he called to say I still had a chance if I gave him pleasure,” she says. “I told him my decision stood.”
Looking back, she calls it “the most difficult time of my career.”
A widespread issue
Msami’s experience is, unfortunately, not unique. She is among countless victims of sextortion happening across various job sectors in Tanzania. Data from activists show that 89 per cent of women in public sector jobs have experienced sextortion while seeking a job, promotion, or service, and 28 per cent of women in private companies have faced it at various stages of their careers.
Tanzania’s challenges reflect a broader global struggle. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), nearly one in three women worldwide is affected by physical or sexual violence.
Sextortion – or Rushwa ya Ngono in Swahili – is defined by the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) as the abuse of power to obtain a sexual benefit or advantage. It is a form of corruption in which sex, rather than money, is the currency of the bribe.
In Tanzania, sextortion is a crime under Section 25 of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act No. 11 of 2007. It criminalises the abuse of power to demand sexual favors in exchange for employment, promotions, rights, or privileges, with penalties of up to a Sh5 million fine, three years in prison, or both.
Moreover, Tanzania has adopted several frameworks promoting gender equality and protecting women from violence. But despite such commitments, sexual harassment remains rife in the country, affecting women throughout their academic journeys, and usually recurs when they seek employment, are employed, or run their own businesses.
“These predicaments,” says Janeth Mawinza, a women’s rights activist based in Dar es Salaam, “are unfortunately happening in a country where women already have limited opportunities due to social and cultural systems that restrict them in myriad ways.”
Her concerns are echoed by the 2023 Gender Profile for Tanzania Mainland which highlights that the unemployment rate in the country’s urban areas is 14.6 per cent for women, compared to 4.6 per cent for men. In Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial capital, for example, 28.6 per cent of women are unemployed compared to 11.8 per cent of men.
When it comes to education, 12.7 per cent of women with university education are unemployed, compared to only 5.7 per cent of men. Women are also more likely to face long-term unemployment, at 48.3 per cent across, compared to 39.4 per cent for men.
Overlooked and underreported
On sextortion, Mawinza, founder and director of WAJIKI, an organisation dedicated to promoting gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice, agrees that while recent media reports and studies have highlighted the issue of sex-for-grades in higher education institutions, the problem extends beyond campuses and often occurs silently.
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Internships, which are meant to provide students with practical skills and professional experience, often turn into rocky journeys. Some young women must trade their bodies for acceptance.
Last year, for example, a student from Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial University publicly addressed Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila, exposing that in some offices, female students seeking internships are coerced into providing sex in exchange for acceptance.
“…You look at the age of the person demanding sex and realize they are as old as your grandfather. They make it clear that if you want an internship, you must give sex in return,” she said bitterly.
However, the exploitation does not stop at the internship application stage. Perpetrators often continue to target victims throughout their internships. In higher education, for-credit internships are mandatory, with students required to fulfill participation criteria under the supervision of a host organization. Sometimes, these supervisors – whose feedback may influence final grades – abuse their authority to exploit interns.
Faudhia (prefers to use only her first name), a student at the University of Iringa (UoI), once had to quit her internship at a government office after her supervisor demanded sex in exchange for ensuring she received good grades on her internship performance report with minimal effort.
Upon learning that most of the girls who had interned there before her had fallen victim to similar predatory behavior, she became fearful for her safety. However, the 22-year-old bravely sought help from the field placement officer at her university, who facilitated her transfer to another office.
“Not everyone is as lucky or outspoken as I am. Some girls remain silent about these struggles because they fear the consequences they might face. I thank God I made the right move,” she says, recalling the ordeal of her best friend, Dyness (not her real name).
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Dyness had secured her internship at a private company in Morogoro through her father’s former co-worker, a high-ranking official at the company. Having known the man for years and referring to him as ‘uncle,’ she never anticipated what came next: he used his position to demand sex from her, promising to secure an exciting job opportunity.
She rejected his advances and even threatened to report him but ultimately chose not to.
“This story,” Faudhia attests, “remains unknown to any of Dyness’s family members out of fear that it would cause conflict and damage her reputation within the family.”
According to a 2020 Transparency International report, sextortion is a hidden and frequently underreported form of corruption, as victims who come forward often risk facing harsh repercussions, with legal systems sometimes mistakenly categorising these acts as consensual.
The report further notes that victimisation is fueled by widespread social norms that excuse and even reward aggressive sexual behavior by men while punishing women when they try to speak out.
“Women who are affected by it may choose to avoid the victim-blaming, revictimisation, and social stigma often associated with reporting sexual abuse,” the report reads.
Ms Rachel Yusuf, who lectures at Dar es Salaam Tumaini University (DarTU), says the issue has long existed but hasn’t received the attention it should. Having once been an intern herself and seen how interns were treated, she holds the view that girls themselves must learn to stand up for themselves since predators are “everywhere and in multitudes.”
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She advises her students to stay aware of such issues, remain resilient, and report any cases of sextortion to trusted individuals. “I always tell them to show a no-nonsense attitude towards unwanted sexual advances and keep evidence if supervisors engage in sexual misconduct.”
When assessing internships, Ms Yusuf ensures she doesn’t overlook unreported abuse by checking with multiple people at host organisations about her students’ performance. This approach gives her a more accurate picture rather than relying on a single person’s opinion. “Digging deep is a job I take seriously,” she says.
She believes all universities should establish mechanisms for reporting such incidents and arrange new placements or postponements when necessary. “Every institution should prioritise students’ safety on and off campus. Let us not overlook their troubles or ignore their complaints.”
Meanwhile, Hellen Sisya, a women’s rights advocate based in Dar es Salaam, calls for a shift in mindset. “When women share their experiences, we must listen with empathy and understanding instead of judgment. This could happen to anyone you care about,” she says.
Last year, women’s rights activists in Tanzania successfully called for the removal of Section 10(b) from proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Law, which suggested that both the perpetrator and the victim of sextortion should face charges. Activists argued that punishing the victim was unjust.
Sisya, one of the activists who spoke out against the provision, tells this publication that its inclusion would deter victims from reporting sextortion incidents to the authorities due to fear of repercussions.
Although research has demonstrated a negative link between women’s experiences of sexual harassment at work and their physical and mental health, more than a third of countries worldwide still do not have any workplace-specific prohibitions of sexual harassment in place.
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A recent study involving eight African countries, including Tanzania, found that despite growing pressure to implement anti-sexual harassment policies, the issue remains largely unresolved in many organisations. Only 30 per cent of participants reported their experiences, and organizations responded to only 42 per cent of reported cases.
The 2023 study also analysed anti-sexual harassment policies and identified flaws in areas such as complaint procedures, organisational communication, and monitoring. Notably, 70 per cent of these policies failed to outline mandatory anti-sexual harassment training for staff.
Additionally, only 41 per cent of policies defined the role of managers and supervisors in fostering a safe working environment and ensuring staff awareness of sexual harassment policies.
Kato (prefers to use only his last name) has worked in the media industry for over eight years but has never been introduced to an anti-sexual harassment policy in his workplace. “I didn’t even know such a document existed, let alone its importance. The only thing we know is that we are not allowed to engage in what we internally refer to as ‘zero grazing’ – meaning colleagues cannot have sexual relationships,” he says
Sexual harassment has been reported as rampant in Tanzanian media houses, and women’s rights advocates have challenged these organisations to implement their gender policies to promote equality in newsrooms.
“Shall we ever rest?”
In Tanzania, sextortion is not confined to official workplaces – it also affects those in the informal economy. Women seeking permits, financing, or commercial spaces often face this form of corruption, adding yet another barrier to their economic progress.
When faced with financial hardships, women become more vulnerable to predators who exploit their desperation by making sexual demands in exchange for opportunities or survival.
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According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), out of the two billion workers in informal employment worldwide, just over 740 million are women. Women are more exposed to informal employment in most low- and lower-middle-income countries and are more often found in the most vulnerable situations.
Despite efforts by gender activists and stakeholders to combat harassment in Tanzanian workplaces, women in the informal sector remain vulnerable due to lack of formal structures to enforce protections.
“It has become normal for us to pay with our bodies for what men get for free or with money,” says 33-year-old Prudence Mongi, who works as a barmaid in Mbezi Louis, Dar es Salaam. She has first-hand experience with sextortion.
Because of the nature of her work, Mongi is forced to switch jobs frequently – moving from one bar to another after every two or three months. Bar owners, she says, prefer high staff turnover, believing it is better for business.
“Finding a job regularly isn’t easy. In most bars I apply to, managers expect sex before hiring me. It’s the same for most girls I know. Sometimes, saying no isn’t an option because we have children to feed. It is a sacrifice we have to make,” she explains.
The World Bank says high rates of gender-based violence are driven by social norms and exacerbated by low levels of women’s economic independence.
“Shall women ever rest and live life as the human beings we are?” Mongi asks, frustrated by how deeply ingrained this harassment has become – so much so that trading one’s body for basic rights is now seen as normal.
Lasting damage
These experiences further exacerbate challenges for women, affecting not only their rights but also their well-being. According to psychologist Josephat Nkwera of the Tanzania Psychological Association (TAPA), such struggles leave them with long-lasting psychological scars.
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“The trauma from these experiences can severely impact their confidence, mental health, and social lives,” he says, emphasising the importance of psychological therapy for victims to prevent further harm.
Transparency International states that sextortion has far more devastating effects on victims than monetary corruption – not only because of the act itself, which can be extremely violent and is always a violation of personal dignity and human rights, but also due to the risks of disease, pregnancy, and, all too often, social ostracization and loss of prospects in the marriage market.
Sextortion can lead to economic consequences such as reduced job satisfaction, decreased performance, unplanned job changes, career interruptions, lower income, and limited opportunities, among others.
44-year-old Haika Daudi is an entrepreneur in Makumbusho, Dar es Salaam. She recalls sinking into depression during her first job in 2007.
After sleeping with her boss in exchange for a promised promotion that never came, she found herself pregnant, forced to abort, and abandoned as he moved on to his next victim. “I felt useless, stupid, and worthless. I quit my job and couldn’t leave the house for months,” she recalls.
Since then, she has never returned to formal employment, but the trauma still haunts her. Her greatest wish is that her two daughters do not suffer the same fate. “I don’t want them to ever be employed. No man should have the power to exploit them – that would kill me,” she says.
What needs to change
However, Diana Msofu, a gender studies lecturer at the University of Iringa, argues that while entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for women’s economic empowerment, they should not abandon their right to formal employment due to workplace exploitation; instead, they should fight it.
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“Everyone must respect others, regardless of gender or status. We should all enjoy our rights unbothered,” she says.
Likewise, IAWJ believes that deterring sextortion requires changing patriarchal attitudes and institutional cultures that tolerate or even encourage it. Adopting clear standards of conduct and reinforcing them through education and training can help achieve this.
Calling for proper and supportive reporting channels, the organisation states that: “Even if people are aware of their rights, they may not come forward if they do not have access to a secure and confidential complaint mechanism.”
Recognising profound work done by gender equality advocates in the country, Msofu still calls for stronger national collective efforts to ensure that women feel safe and protected wherever they are – whether in economic activities or not.
For her, the fight is ongoing, and the voices of women like Msami, Faudhia, and Mongi – along with many others – are pushing the conversation forward, demanding a workplace where hard work, not sexual exploitation, determines success.
Mweha Msemo is a freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He has a specific interest in social issues. He is available at mwehahamran@yahoo.com.
One Response
Excellent article! I am so happy the author covered this important topic. But it leaves me speechless…