S3xual harassment has become a concerning issue in the professional landscape of Zimbabwe.
TM Pick n Pay, one of the largest retail outlets in the country, is currently facing disturbing allegations of s3xual harassment. A male manager within the organization is accused of subjecting female subordinates to unwelcome advances and requests for lula lula.
According to a report by source, the matter has been brought to the attention of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), which has promptly initiated an investigation. Virginia Muwanigwa, the CEO of ZGC, confirmed this when contacted by the publication.
She stated that investigations into the TM Pick n Pay s3xual harassment case are already in progress.
When asked for more information, Muwanigwa mentioned that she was forwarding the inquiry to the commission’s Investigations Department, emphasizing that the investigation was still ongoing.
“The investigation is still underway, so we cannot comment. I am still passing your request to our Investigations Department,” said Muwanigwa.
As of the time this article was written, Malcolm Mycroft, the managing director of TM Pick n Pay, had not responded to requests for comment. Mark Machadu, the Marondera branch manager literally blue-ticked questions sent via WhatsApp.
A complaint submitted to ZGC, which has been seen by ZimSeen, details the allegations made by Portia Rangwani and Beverly Chakangara. These employees claim that they were subjected to unwanted advances by Gondai Mudzimu, the assistant branch manager of TM Pick n Pay Marondera.
Rangwani accused Mudzimu of making romantic proposals and requesting intimate favours. She also alleged that Mudzimu had made similar advances toward other female staff members, and in cases where his advances were rebuffed, he would falsely accuse them of misconduct, often leading to their dismissal.
Rangwani mentioned that, after unsuccessful advances, Mudzimu changed his approach and gave her keys while directing her to the Receiving department.
It is further alleged that Mudzimu once threatened Rangwani with dismissal saying, “uchazviona, mira hako uone uchaona kwazvichasvika urikuenda kumba.”
Rangwani also claimed that Mudzimu retaliated by making “false charges” against her, which resulted in her facing a disciplinary hearing for insubordination.
She asserted that the issue of love proposals and harassment was widespread, involving the branch manager and that a fellow employee had even commented, “urikuramba iye mukuru akaroora pani, tisu takazvitanga here pano.”
Chakangara made similar accusations against Mudzimu. Attempts to reach Mudzimu for comment were unsuccessful.
This development comes in the wake of reports of s3xual harassment involving high-ranking officials at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The State broadcaster suspended its radio services director and Power FM station manager on similar charges.
Additionally, the News and Current Affairs director, Albert Chekayi, News Bulletins Manager, Effort Magoso, and Robson Mhandu, ZBC’s Radio Services Director, were also suspended for separate incidents of s3xual harassment.
Source iHarare
