Sexual abuse victims threaten to sue govt

A  group of aggrieved  women who raised complaints of sexual harassment by top Immigration directors last year before being fired are threatening to sue the government for leaving them at the mercy of ‘sex predators’ without taking any course of action to protect them.

Zim Morning Post is reliably informed that the Gender Commission made investigations and found the accused directors guilty including the then chief director Clemence Chisango who is now the Registra General.

No action or disciplinary measure has been taken to date.

Charges of sexual harassment and unfair treatment of women at the department were raised late last year and the then director  Masango was hauled before a parliamentary portfolio committee to answer to the allegations , she went on a diplomatic offensive instead.

When contacted for a comment by this publication on Thursday, Masango hung up indicating that he had no comment on the matter referring all questions back to the sources.

In the same modus operandi, Masango also forwarded all questions brought before him by the parliamentary committee last year to his employer indicating that he in his personal capacity could not answer.

“Masango always evades those allegations hence the victims stance on wanting to sue the employer which was seemingly protecting their aggressors,” said a source .

Highly placed sources who spoke to the Zim Morning Post this week said the Zimbabwe Gender Commission convened meetings with the victims and investigations were carried out in which Masango and his crew were found guilty of charges which were levelled against them.

The relevant authorities at the Gender Commission could however not be contacted to give their comprehensive report as they were not in office and out on official business.

The group of suspended Immigration Department employees who made reports to parliament last year poured out their hearts while narrating their ordeals.

The employees openly shed tears as they described graphic acts of sexual harassment ranging from love proposals and hotel room meetings which were turned down leading to job losses and unbearable working conditions.

In the cases of employees that were married to fellow employees in the same departments, both the wives and husbands were given hard times and at times unjustifiable transfers.