Program, Evaluation, and Monitoring Officer of WAJIKI, Hans Obote, whose institution sensitizes communities on gender issues, issued the appeal while talking to members of the jogging groups- Talent, Smart, and Wanaka- based at Tabata in Dar es Salaam last week.
He said sexual violence acts have spread everywhere, including in jogging groups, adding joggers must be at the forefront of stopping such a vice.
"WAJIKI is conducting the Women Fund Tanzania-sponsored campaign termed 'Safari Salama Bila Rushwa ya Ngono Inawezekana', to end gender violence and today we have come to you," Obote pointed out.
He said that the cruelty has been done to children, young women, and men, including those in jogging groups, adding it is important such groups fight against the behaviour.
"You meet either in your practice or another place, it is important that you educate each other so that each of you realizes the effects of corruption and sex and avoids it and does not do it to the other," he said.
WAJIKI Executive Director Janeth Mawinza said the Community Based Organization (CBO) has been campaigning in schools, motorcycle drivers' parking lots, in Dala dala, and even in the community, and now the institution has decided to follow the sportsmen.
"Our goal is to ensure the whole community has an understanding about the effects of sexual extortion and sexual violence in general and be ready to either avoid it or provide education to help be safe," Janeth noted.
Janeth said that they have started with the Tabata jogging groups and will then go to other athletes in various areas of the city to impart their knowledge.
"We believe that a safe trip without sexual bribery is possible, that's why we continue with this campaign that has helped many young people, especially drivers, to change their behavior," Janeth stated.
She explained that initially, the campaign was targeting motorcycle 'bodaboda', bajaj, and dala dala drivers because they are the ones accused of using their means of transport to perpetrate sexual extortion.
"But now we have expanded the work by helping some drivers who have received our education and put it to work to protect girls from sexual corruption," she said.
Sexual extortion or sextortion occurs when people are extorted sexual favours in exchange for performing a function entrusted to someone.
The act qualifies as corruption given the perpetrators abuse their office for personal gain.
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