Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Check Point Desk
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has expressed shock over the dismissal of a Bulawayo woman, who was forced to disclose her HIV status to her employer, saying the matter is a human rights issue and the victim should seek recourse.
The woman, a 40-year-old employee of a security company, was forced to reveal her HIV status to her superiors in exchange for permission to travel to Gokwe, where she receives treatment.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, expressed shock at the treatment the woman has been subjected to, adding that she should immediately approach human rights groups for redress.
“The Government is very clear on such matters, in fact, everywhere in the world medical issues remain confidential, it is between an individual and their doctor, what this company did is absolutely unacceptable,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
According to the woman, who cannot be named for fear of discrimination, management at the company initially refused to let her go for a mandatory review at a clinic in Gokwe, Midlands Province, until she provided documentary proof, via a WhatsApp message, that she was HIV positive.
The widowed mother of three told Sunday News that she was meant to go for her medical review on 17 April, but the company secretary, a Ms Patience Mambewu, told her that if she wanted to go, she must surrender her company uniform and never return to work.
“I eventually went for review because that is my health, which I could not risk,” she said.
However, upon her return, she received a call from Ms Mambewu demanding her medical records as proof of her HIV status, a demand which shocked her.
“I am a widow with three kids, whose father passed away after succumbing to the same illness. So, out of fear of losing my job and then failing to look after my kids, I sent her a picture of my medical card via WhatsApp as she had demanded,” she revealed.
The company management would have none of it, as the record did not have her name on it.
In an audio sent via WhatsApp, Ms Mambewu is heard demanding a written report from her for defiance.
“You said you will send me the picture (medical record), but you didn’t, only sending it now and it has no name, meaning it could be anyone else. You must come to the office and write a formal report on your conduct,” Ms Mambewu is heard saying in the audio.
The woman said she felt that her health condition was supposed to be kept secret and be treated with privacy and is now feeling discriminated.
On Thursday last week, she was called to the company office and told to come in uniform, and was subjected to a hearing.
“It was not even a hearing but an interrogation as I was pestered with questions on why my proof of being HIV positive did not show my name and they considered my absence from work as truancy,” she said.
The guard said she then asked to have a family member by her side or a representative from their union, but her requests were not granted.
“They then offered me to sign what they said was a renewal contract, despite the fact that I had a running contract, having been employed three years ago. I refused and left the meeting but after a few minutes, I was called and told to come back to the office, where I was given a document signed by the general manager, Mr Tapiwa Rutsate,” she said.
The letter is explicit, stating that if she did not sign the contract, the company would not be assigning her any duties — a summary dismissal.
“It was noted that you did not renew your contract of employment, which expired on the 27 of April 2025. The company informed you to renew the contract on several occasions but you refused. Pursuant to this issue, on 08 of May 2025, you were summoned for a hearing at our Bulawayo offices but you still refused to renew the contract of employment, instead, you wrote a statement/letter refusing to renew the contract. You are advised to note that the employment relationship between (name withheld) Security and you, hinge on the contract of employment,” reads the letter.
She was eventually dismissed.
“This therefore means that you will only be able to continue with your duties after you have renewed your employment contract,” wrote the general manager.
Mr Rutsate did not respond to questions sent to him on Friday.
On Friday, the woman made a formal report to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
