Checked 28/09-Sextortion undermines institutions, warns Dr Sikazwe
By Tony Nkhoma
NYAPACHUMA Memorial Foundation (NMF) founder Dr Emily Sikazwe says Gender-based violence (GBV) and sextortion are not isolated acts but systemic issues that undermine the integrity of institutions.
Dr Sikazwe said the vice erodes trust in higher education and denies young women and men the right to learn in a safe and dignified environment.
Speaking at the just-ended ‘Raised Voices Campaign’ in Lusaka Saturday, Dr Sikazwe said sextortion robs students of their future and destroys the values that universities were meant to uphold: excellence, fairness, and respect.
“Your commitment, openness, and willingness to engage in frank discussions on a subject that is often shrouded in silence, shame, and fear have made this gathering a true milestone. We convened here under a shared recognition: that gender-based violence and sextortion are not isolated acts, but systemic issues that undermine the integrity of our institutions, erode trust in higher education, and deny young women and men the right to learn in safety and dignity. They rob students of their future and corrode the values that universities are meant to uphold excellence, fairness, and respect,” she said.
Dr Sikazwe commended stakeholders and the student community for their willingness to talk and face the evils of sextortion head-on without fear.
“What has been striking is not only the richness of these contributions, but also the shared determination that emerged across all institutions: the determination that silence can no longer be an option. This conference has served as a culmination, bringing together many streams of ongoing dialogue into one collective voice. We now have a clearer picture of the challenges, but more importantly, of the opportunities to act,” she said.
Dr Sikazwe said there was urgent need for clear institutional policies that define and criminalise sextortion alongside other forms of GBV.
She said it was important to strengthen reporting and grievance mechanisms that were survivor-centered, accessible, and free from retaliation.
“Training and sensitization of staff, administrators, and students so that prevention becomes part of the culture of our universities. Partnerships with civil society, law enforcement, and policymakers to ensure that institutional reforms are matched with legal and societal accountability,” she said.
Dr Sikazwe also announced that the NMF would expand its operation to other provinces.
“Into 2026 and beyond, we shall expand our work to the Copperbelt, Central and Muchinga provinces. We shall be undertaking baseline research so that our interventions are evidence-based for impact. We shall also collaborate with our various partners on test cases, including through a Memorandum of Understanding with the various universities, in bringing about the desired reforms,” Dr Sikazwe said.
She urged institutions of higher learning to move beyond discussion to enforceable action
Dr Sikazwe also urged institutions to go back and review its policies, strengthen its codes of conduct, and establish transparent monitoring frameworks.
“No single university can confront GBV and sextortion alone. Let us establish a network forum where institutions of higher learning regularly share experiences, track progress, and support one another in addressing this scourge,” she said.
She also urged championing a cultural shift, which would ultimately end sextortion and GBV through the transformation of mindset.
“We must cultivate campuses where power is exercised responsibly, where consent is respected, and where survivors are met with empathy and justice. Enough to abuse of power, enough to silence, enough to fear,” she said.
Over 400 students from Lusaka attended the conference.
