REPSSI adopts PSEA

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

In the chaos that follows disaster, a second, hidden emergency often preys upon the most vulnerable. This is the grim reality of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), a crisis within a crisis where the very individuals tasked with providing aid can become perpetrators.

This troubling dynamic was discussed at a training workshop that was held on September 30 and October 1, 2025 in Mutare, and was attended by disability champions, officials from Department of Social Development and District Development Coordinators from Chimanimani and Chipinge.

Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) unveiled its adoption of a vital new framework; The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). The session aimed to arm disability champions with the knowledge to advocate for their communities against this dangerous crime.

REPSSI outlined that the formidable barriers survivors face in coming forward is the fear that their family’s only lifeline of support will be cut if they speak out, or that they will face violent retaliation from those in power. Compounding this fear is a widespread lack of knowledge about where to seek help and a deep-seated distrust that their claims will be taken seriously.

The organisation delivered a clear, zero-tolerance message, stressing that exploitation knows no gender as both male and female aid workers are capable of perpetrating these acts.

REPSSI has therefore explicitly prohibited the solicitation of any sexual favour from those receiving aid. Furthermore, they strongly discourage all relationships between aid workers and beneficiaries, recognising the natural power imbalance that makes such dynamics fundamentally problematic.

Armed with the PSEA framework, the champions in Mutare were equipped with a crucial tool. This initiative is designed to transform fear into empowerment, creating pathways for the vulnerable to express themselves without trepidation and to demand accountability from those who would seek to exploit them.

In a landscape where trust is fragile, REPSSI’s mission is to rebuild it, ensuring that humanitarian aid arrives with protection, not predation.