adminFaith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
A HUMAN Resources Manager at the Gweru City council accused of demanding sex from students seeking attachment, had his bid for freedom dashed when a magistrate turned down his application for discharge. Rodgers Chanda, 41, of 1 Homewood, Southdowns in Gweru was dragged to court by two Midlands State University (MSU) students, on allegations of seeking sexual favours from them so they could join the council as interns.
He appeared before Gweru regional magistrate Phathekile Msipha, facing one count of abuse of duty and one of attempted rape.
Msipha remanded him out of custody to Thursday.
The magistrate rejected Chanda’s application saying his defence was vague.
“You’ve many issues you’ve to clarify. Why are all these witnesses testifying against you? You’ve to explain the relationship between you and the first complainant and why the second complainant who got attachment is testifying against you,” said Msipha.
She said Chanda’s alleged conduct could be interpreted as abuse of duty.
Chanda said the allegations were fabrications to tarnish his image and eliminate him from the local authority.
“Your worship I don’t know why these girls are lying. The truth is that they’re just teaming up with their boyfriends who work at the council to eliminate me. I didn’t propose love to them or ask for sexual favours from them,” he said.
Chanda is being represented by Brian Dube of Gundu and Dube Law Practitioners.
Prosecuting Ernest Muzembi told the court that sometime in January this year, a female MSU student went to the Gweru City Council offices looking for attachment.
“She left her documents at Chanda’s office. He later called her advising her to fall in love with him so that he would secure an attachment place for her,” said Muzembi.
He said she turned down Chanda’s proposal and because of that she did not get employment.
Muzembi told the court that during the same period another MSU student got attached to the local authority.
Muzembi said Chanda proposed love to her as she was applying for attachment and she turned him down.
When she got attachment, the court heard, Chanda continued to propose love to her to no avail.
The court heard that sometime in February this year, Chanda called her to his office and he started caressing her all over the body and he removed his pair of trousers.
Muzembi said Chanda grabbed the girl’s hand and tried to undress her.
He said the girl managed to escape when Chanda’s phone rang, distracting him.
Online Reporter