Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
A SHOCKING sexual harassment scandal has erupted at ZETDC, with a female employee alleging sustained harassment, intimidation and professional victimisation by her supervisor, Engineer Innocent Chiturumani.
Lesley Sibanda, an artisan in the Revenue Assurance department, claims she has been targeted since December 2023 after rejecting what she describes as Chiturumani’s persistent and unwanted romantic advances.
“It came as a shock because I never expected this from a man of his position. I felt compromised and increasingly unsafe at work as his behaviour continued unchecked,” Sibanda told B-Metro.
Sibanda produced a 76-page dossier of WhatsApp chats allegedly exchanged between herself and Engineer Chiturumani dating from 2023 to 2025, in which the senior official repeatedly proposed a romantic relationship. Her responses, she said, were deliberately non-committal.
“I could not say no openly because I had been told he could make life difficult for me. I was hoping he would eventually give up, but he persisted,” she said.
In July 2025, Sibanda formally filed a sexual harassment complaint against the engineer. The matter was heard by a committee chaired by Engineer T. Chikomo, deputised by Engineer B. Goronga and Miss L. Dupute. While the committee acknowledged that Engineer Chiturumani had made advances towards Sibanda, it ultimately dismissed the harassment allegations.
According to official ZETDC documents, the committee’s reasons included that “Innocent Chiturumani proposed love to you and you showed no sign of negative response besides that he was your supervisor,” and that no evidence was found to suggest he intended to award her overtime she did not work for.
The committee further stated that the chats showed the two were “still in good books” even after the report, and that there were “sour relations between you, your supervisors and your workmates.”
The investigators recommended that Engineer Chiturumani be cautioned and that Sibanda seek medical attention.
Sibanda, however, insists that the harassment escalated after she refused the advances. “My contract was terminated unfairly, my assistant was reassigned, and he instructed colleagues not to work or socialise with me,” she said. She further alleged that her safety belt went missing and that a ladder she relied on for work broke under suspicious circumstances, leaving her fearing that her safety was being deliberately compromised.
The allegations also include claims of material coercion. Sibanda said Chiturumani promised cars and payment for overtime she never worked, in exchange for a relationship.
“He told me that if I agreed to be his companion, he would buy me a car and facilitate overtime payments without me having to work. I was repeatedly approached, even by colleagues encouraging me to give him a chance because ‘he was generous to everyone who did’, but I refused,” she said.
The situation took a toll on her health. Sibanda said that on 26 September 2024, she developed severe migraines due to stress and suffered an emotional breakdown while wiring boxes at stores.
“I fell while trying to reach the ladies’ restroom and had to be assisted by staff. The stress was unbearable. I feared for my safety, especially handling electricity, which requires complete focus,” she said.
She said attempts to resolve the matter internally yielded little relief. She reported the issue to Health and Safety Officer, Madam Mandaza, and received counselling. She later approached the human resources manager Mr Khabo, who promised to intervene, but she was shocked when he suggested she meet Engineer Chiturumani personally despite her complaint.
“I felt so helpless. Every encounter or message caused stress, and I feared for my safety,” she said.
A former colleague corroborated her account, describing the treatment as “unacceptable, humiliating and unjust.” Another female employee also told B-Metro that she had faced similar harassment, saying she had to constantly avoid the engineer to protect her job and dignity.
Sibanda further alleged that Engineer Chiturumani’s conduct extended to at least four other female employees who, she claims, complied out of fear of victimisation. She said the engineer ensured she had no transport for assignments and no teammates to work with, as colleagues were allegedly intimidated into avoiding her.
“Sometimes I would use my own money to go for work assignments just to avoid negative reports that I was not working,” she said.
Matters came to a head during a contract renewal interview at which Engineer Chiturumani sat on the panel. “I was traumatised. He should have recused himself given our history. His presence and evil smirk left me terrified. After the assessment, my contract was not renewed,” she said.
Official ZETDC correspondence shows Sibanda consistently documented her complaints. Letters from 2023 to 2025 detail repeated advances, alleged promises of material benefits and professional victimisation. She also filed operational reports, including an incident at PMT 206 Gwabalanda on 29 October 2025, demonstrating continued professionalism.
On 4 February, Eng Chiturumani promised to give his side of the story but never showed up.
