adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
MATABELELAND South provincial Agritex officer Bernard Sibanda, 57, who was facing indecent assault charges after being dragged to court by his female subordinate, 38, had reason to smile yesterday after he was found not guilty and acquitted.Sibanda, who is under suspension, had been taken to court by a female extension officer based in Simbumbumbu area in the Gwanda District over accusations of sexual harassment.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. After State witnesses had given evidence, the prosecutor Admire Zvongouya told Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe that the State was withdrawing charges against Sibanda because evidence by the witnesses was not corroborative.
In his submissions, Zvongouya said there was no tangible evidence linking Sibanda to the alleged offence and said the complainant had failed to report the matter on time.
“The victim couldn’t make a report on that particular day after receiving advice from other people. One then wonders why the complainant failed to reveal the matter to the person who was assisting her type her assignments,” said Zvongouya.
“According to the complainant, she was so aggrieved to the extent that she decided to proceed to Simbumbumbu instead of going to report the alleged offence to the police. She even cheated the prosecutor by not telling the truth as to what exactly happened on the particular day. Sibanda’s lawyer Galen Moyo of Galen Moyo Masiye and Partners said the complainant had fabricated the story with the intention to get his client fired from work.
However, the complainant maintained her stand on the matter saying:
“I am not the only female extension officer who has been sexually harassed by my boss. If all Agritex female employees could be called to this court, you will be shocked to hear what they went through as a result of this man. There are strange things happening in our department.”
Meanwhile, Sibanda seemed not moved by the allegations levelled against him by the complainant as he kept on laughing as she gave evidence.
Sibanda did not stop laughing even after being warned by Nazombe. The magistrate had to ask his lawyer, Moyo, to advise Sibanda to behave.
“Defence, please tell your client to stop laughing. I have tried to tell him. Can you please make him understand,” said Nazombe.
Online Reporter