1. Posted on Thursday 30 December 2010 - 10:10

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   Mtheto Lungu

   

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   Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi

   Staff members at the Voice of Christ (VOC) in Mbabane have claimed they are sexually abused at work. The revelations have seen calls for a probe into the church's operations.

   

   Five staff, four aged above 30 and one in her 20's, say they are sexually harassed by one staff member. No action has been taken against him though the issue has taken place for months now.
   
   The Times of Swaziland sources from within the popular Christian radio channel, said they preferred the matter to be handled by the abuse organisation they had contacted and would not comment in fear of victimisation at work.
   
   The harassment is reported to take place both at work and at the women’s houses where the suspect would approach each one of them separately allegedly carrying a pack of condoms and ask for sex.
   
   "He tells us he wants to sleep with us. He also sends us SMS’ saying he loves us. He even told one of us he had dreamt about her," one of the harassed women disclosed.
   
   She further alleged: "He brings condoms to you in the office and shows them to you then starts fondling and kissing you. This shocked me."
   
   After work, he reportedly visits the (four) single women in their rented flats where he is said to continue with his sexual demands.
   
   "Some have had to change their areas of residence because of his visits," the woman said. However, the man does not make any promises to the women in exchange for the sexual favours.
   
   Other sources have revealed that a memorandum, signed by 13 employees, has already been sent to the station’s Board of Directors, alerting them about the staffers’ alleged harassment. Sources say 30 days have gone by since the memo was sent and no action has been taken against the man.
   
   "There is a Policy and Statement of Faith which everyone has to sign which states that sexual harassment is a dismissible offence. But since the Board has not taken any action, we don’t know where to take our problems. It’s so sad," the sources told the newspaper.
   
   The matter is said to have been reported to the Swaziland Action Group against Abuse and the Women and Law in Southern Africa.
   
   They allege the harassment came to the fore after one of the women, who was experiencing the man’s advances for the first time, reported to other employees what had happened to her.
   
   "After she had reported the harassment, the other women also came up to report cases of sexual abuse by the manager," the sources said.
   
   Efforts to get comment from the VOC Board and the station’s director, Pastor Richard Dlamini, proved futile as those contacted either said they did not know the matter or did not pick up their phones.
   
   The station’s Programme Manager, Abel Vilakati refused to comment.
   
   "The matter is being handled by the director, so I can’t comment," said Vilakati.
   
   Board member, Sylvia Mthethwa, whom sources said was aware of the matter, denied knowledge of it and referred further enquiries to the Chairman, Luke Mnisi, whose phone was first answered by a male voice who said he was not him.
   
   Later, a female voice answered and said Mnisi had left his phone at home to go for a sauna.
   
   A short message sent to him requesting his comment had also not been responded.
   
   Meanwhile the Swaziland Conference of Churches said they can only look at the matter once it has been brought before them.
   
   Titus Nzima, who is a member of the organisation’s Board, said for now they had not heard of the allegations.
   
   "We can only look at it as a Board of the Swaziland Conference of Churches if it is brought to us. Maybe the VOC Board is still handling it, but if it comes to us then we will make an informed decision," Nzima briefly said.

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Reactions

1. Posted on Monday 03 January 2011 10:50

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   Winnie Leong

   

   Winnie Leong
   33 berichten
   Lid sinds December 2010
   Kuala Lumpur

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   haha Maybe the lady cannot get some benefit from the guy so report it as sexual abuse.
   Geo Lenses
   Nudy Brown

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