Langa Mabena
Blessing Karubwa
BARELY two months after B-Metro published a series of stories about a 19-year-old Kwekwe woman who works as a marketing agent for a micro-insurance company and claims her supervisor sexually assaulted her, the wheels of justice have started moving following reports that the matter is now in the hands of the police, awaiting to be heard in court.
The victim whose name is being withheld for legal reasons had been expressing concerns that justice was not being served at the company, claiming that the management at Coverlink Micro-Insurance Holdings were dragging their feet in dealing with the suspect, Stewart Mangwiro, and some officials also tried to bribe her with US$150 and would make menacing phone calls, insisting that she keeps the matter under wraps.
Mangwiro, an elder at the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga), is being accused by the victim of inappropriately and indecently touching her.
Commending B-Metro for exposing the matter, the victim said she reported the matter at Redcliff Police Station under reference number RRB 5965853.
The matter was later transferred to Nkayi Police Station since the alleged abuse occurred there during a work trip where Mangwiro allegedly requested to share a room with the victim.
Later that night, he allegedly sneaked into her blankets without her consent, removed her jacket, which she was wearing and started kissing and caressing her body.
“Following the stories that were published by B-Metro, I was approached by someone who directed me to a lawyer. I was given legal advice to report the matter. I reported at the Redcliff Police Station, which later on transferred the case to Nkayi Police Station where the abuse initially occurred.
“So, last week but one, I was called by a constable who identified himself as Ncube, instructing me to come and attend court on Tuesday next week without fail. The reference number is RRB 5965853. I haven’t taken some of the details so far, but I am happy and relieved because of that move,” she said.
The victim claimed that the harassment began when Mangwiro was tasked with training, supervising and accompanying the company’s agents to Nkayi District in Matabeleland North Province to market their products.
She claimed Mangwiro would visit their sleeping quarters under the guise of providing work guidance. These visits escalated to inappropriate touching, including touching the victim’s thighs while ostensibly explaining tasks.
The victim said the sexual assault was not only traumatising but also emotionally abusive.
“Looking at the circumstances that happened, with managers insisting on bribing me, making threatening calls to me and instructing that I should keep the issue under wraps, I can say that women’s rights are suppressed by society.
“Some men usually want to suppress us as women, especially at workplaces. Just imagine what could have happened if I had taken the bribe. This issue traumatised me, affected me emotionally and even mentally because I got to a stage where I failed to sleep for countless nights,” she said.
She discouraged society from being too judgemental towards abused women, saying that the move goes a long way in affecting them mentally and emotionally.
Contacted for a comment, the company’s general manager, Kavanga Magora, said the company had since dismissed Mangwiro.
“As a company, we don’t tolerate such kind of things, no wonder why we dismissed him. Anytime we get a case like this, it becomes an instant dismissal,” he said.
Online Reporter