ZBC sex scandal: board member backs victims‏

Published: October 9, 2009

Harare(ZimEye)Newly appointed Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings board member Bishop Trevor Manhanga has come out in support of the parastatal’s victims of sexual assault.

Manhanga said the sex scandal that has rocked the state broadcaster should be fully investigated.

He told ZimEye in an interview that sexual harassment at the work place was totally unacceptable.

“Those people who perpetrate sexual abuse must feel the ostracization. People at the top must be brought to account. There should be no sacred cows,” Manhanga said.

Manhanga, who is also the chair of the Anti-Domestic Violence Committee, has in the past been a strong defender of women’s rights in the workplace. Recently he ensured the sacking of a senior lecturer at a local university, who was found guilty of harassing female students and staff members.

“If I’m called upon to get involved in this matter I’d welcome the opportunity. I’ll give it my best shot,” Manhanga said.

An internal probe is now underway at the ZBH which runs ZBC after female staff members complained that news and current affairs general manager Tarzan Mandizvidza and reporters manager O’Brian Rwafa were sexually molesting them. Rwafa reportedly made one of the women pregnant against her wishes.

He was also beaten up in Kuwadzana recently when he was caught in a compromising position with a married woman employed by ZBC. Rwafa claimed at the time that he had been attacked by MDC activists but police have dismissed the charges after the true circumstances of the attack were established.

The ZBC has set up a board of enquiry headed by human resources general manager Bernania Shumba but women’s groups are calling for an independent commission headed by an impartial person with knowledge of the law.

Letters to board chairman Justin Mutasa and CEO Happison Muchechetere about the progress of the internal probe were not responded to. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)