Sextortion in Education Sector and Response to Criminal Legal System in Tanzania – A Review

This paper reviews the occurrence of sextortion (sexual corruption) in the education sector and the responses to criminal justice in Tanzania. The methods of review focus on the results of the available literature and social media reports (newspapers, blogs) to address fundamental issues such as sexual corruption in the education sector, legal action and challenges that the victims of sextortion face in the legal system. Although sometimes newspapers are biased and inauthentic, they contain some important and complementary data which are useful in this review. Sexual harassment against women is a global problem; it is therefore not unique to Tanzania. This review indicates that sextortion is a malignant cancer existing at all levels of schooling from primary to university education, and the victims are mainly female students and female teachers. In addition to that, this review reveals that a number of sextortion cases have been filed in the courts and judgments made. Although, unfair judgment is mounting as some judges divert laws; prosecution for a few cases filed in the court, has been difficult due to high secrecy between perpetrators and the victims, as well as corruption within police prosecutors and the court system. Sexual corruption and any other forms of sexual harassment are prohibited by the law. Therefore, each person in his or her position must abide by the civil servants’ code and ethics.

Keywords: Sextortion, sexual corruption, criminal justice, education sector, legal system