MASVINGO – Chicken Inn employees at Exor have approached the National Employment Council (NEC) seeking action against gross labour malpractices at the company including alleged acts of sexual misconduct by a senior manager at the eatery.
In a letter to the Complex Manager, Chicken Inn Exor Branch dated August 22, 2016, Fambai Mandeya, who is the Designated Agent for Catering at NEC Masvingo Regional Office, says on his visit to the food court on August 18, employees raised many grievances including sexual abuse, illegal deductions of salaries and understaffing.
The letter was also copied to Jemitiasi Chirevo, the Workers Committee chairperson and to Elliot Madzore, the Organising Secretary for the Zimbabwe Catering and Hotel Workers Union.
At the centre of the sexual misconduct allegation is Justice Rusike, a senior manager at the food outlet who is being accused of sending explicit sexual messages to Adolene Chipumuro, a junior employee who has since been fired after she allegedly spurned Rusike’s sexual advances.
Mandeya is now investigating some of the allegations with powers vested in him in terms of Section 63 and 93 of the Labour Act, Chapter 28.01 and Section 93(5) of the Labour Amendment Act No 5 of 2015.
“The above cited are allegations being raised against you. It is your right to proffer defence in line with the audi alteram partem rule. May we have a meeting to discuss the above listed as soon as possible.
“You are free to propose the date failure of which this office will have no choice but to fix the date on behalf of the parties,” the letter reads.
The letter also contains a long list of other grievances which include staff being forced to pay for losses incurred by the company including gross profit drops.
The employees also complain about being forced to sign leave forms when in actual fact, they will be reporting for duty and overtime not being paid.
Chicken Inn Human Resources manager, Misheck Muleya professed ignorance to sexual harassment allegations and promised to investigate the issue.
“We do not know of a sexual harassment case that has been reported to NEC, instead we have a case of alleged unfair dismissal for which the employee was dismissed for a clear case of theft after having been caught on CCTV stealing. Dismissed employee maybe making those allegations to tarnish the image of the manager as mere sour grapes,” Muleya wrote in an email to TellZim News.
When asked how far the investigations into the alleged abuses had gone, Mandeya said they had already had a meeting with Rusike and some issues were resolved.
“We did not discuss any sexual harassment issue because Adoline was dismissed from work and she was not called to the meeting. I suggest she report her case to police because NEC cannot deal with employees who are already fired,” Mandeya said.
Chipumuro vowed to take her matter to the police saying she is disappointed by the manner NEC and Chicken Inn had handled her case.
She alleged Muleya had failed to protect her and was working in cahoots with Rusike whom he allegedly tipped off when she forwarded the messages to him.
“I forwarded Rusike’s inappropriate messages to Muleya to get his support but to my surprise, he quickly went behind my back and tipped off Rusike. I was puzzled the following day when I received a written warning saying I was not doing my job well and I was stealing from the company. A few weeks later, I got dismissed from work after being falsely accused of eating food from the stock. I am the only one who was dismissed for the alleged offence although others were also involved,” said Chipumuro.
She expressed shock that NEC had already entered into a meeting with Rusike yet they failed to call the complainants to the meeting.
“I was not even called to the meeting with NEC thus denied a chance to list my grievances and present evidence. It’s so sad how these managers take advantage of poor and young women using money and office. I suspect the NEC person was bribed and they are even calling me a thief. Many women are being abused at Chicken Inn but they are scared to speak out and some are sleeping with Rusike to keep their jobs,” she added.news

Zaka – Villagers from Chivasa village under Chief Nhema’s area were stunned last week when a promiscuous 57-year-old woman was caught having sex with a 16-year-old boy who is her neighbour.
The matter is now being handled by the police.
The two (names supplied) were busted in broad daylight by the boy’s grandmother who had been suspecting the two of having an inappropriate relationship.

Upon realizing that they had been caught red handed, the boy tried to run away but was told to calm down by his old lover who told him not to worry about his grandmother.
TellZim News is reliably informed that the boy’s grandmother left the two alone but later spread the news to other villagers.
A close family member of the immoral granny said she was had begun moving around with a machete fearing being confronted by the boy’s grandmother.
“The boy’s grandmother reported the matter to village elders who then called the two women for a hearing,” said the villager.
Family members also believe that the affair started last year because the woman was usually seen around the boy’s place.
The boy was said to be deeply in love with the old woman and had reportedly fought with the sugar mummy’s other boyfriend in the past.
“We used to see —– (the woman’s name) entering the boy’s place but since the boy stays alone, we assumed she was simply checking on her neighbour,” said another villager.news

Zvishavane – A Mberengwa man appeared before Zvishavane magistrate for allegedly raping and impregnating his wife’s 15-year-old daughter.
Appearing before magistrate Shepherd Munjanja, the man (name supplied) pleaded guilty to allegations that he bedded his daughter twice her resulting in the girl’s pregnancy.
He was remanded to October 12, 2016 for continuation of trial.
It is the State’s case that on September 5, 2015, the accused took the victim into a nearby forest to fetch some thatching poles.
On their way back home, the respondent insisted that the poles were not enough and suggested that they add some more.
They then left the poles they had gathered, and went back into the forest.
The accused then reportedly dragged the complainant to a more secluded area, some few metres away from where they had left their poles and raped her once before threatening her with death if she revealed the matter to anyone.
On October 21, the same year the accused took the advantage of the absence of his wife who had gone for a church meeting and sneaked into the minor’s sleeping bedroom and raped her three times.
The matter came to light after the complaint fell pregnant and a report was made to the police leading to the accused’s arrest. Stanley Ncube appeared for the state.news

Itai Muzondo

Masvingo – Squabbles that are rocking political parties in Zimbabwe have not spared the Joyce Mujuru-led Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) party which is vying to demote political firebrand Dzikamai Mavhaire from his post as National Organiser.
The development comes amid internal fights emerging as party cadres jostle for influential positions. 
The internal fights saw the Masvingo leadership striping off Retired Colonel Claudious Makova of his chairmanship position allegedly at the instigation of Mavhaire but the move was reversed by the party leadership at national level.
Mavhaire and Makova have reportedly been feuding since the party’s Maungwa rally in May where Makova urged aging party members to only act as party advisers and leave posts for the young and energetic.
It was at this rally Mavhaire spilled the ‘Marujata’ rant against First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Makova argued that if Zim PF installs aging leaders, it will make no sense in fighting Mugabe (92) since they would be a replica of what they are fighting against.
This was interpreted as a dig at the 73-years-old Mavhaire who is eyeing the vice presidency position in the party.
Zim PF insiders told TellZim News that the ZimPF leadership is not happy with Mavhaire’s alleged attempts to propel his loyal supporters to all strategic position so that they would support his ambitions to be in the national executive.
“People are not happy with the fights. It is Mavhaire against Makova and vice versa over differences on how the party should be nurtured at provincial level. The fights are also part of the jostling for influence ahead of the anticipated national congress.
“Mavhaire seems to have made himself too many enemies after he tried to boot out Makova so that he could elevate Dr William Zivenge as provincial chairperson. The issue became tenser when he wrote a letter to President Mujuru asking the party to sustain the change they had been unprocedurally made. Plans are now there to dethrone him from his current post since leadership is of the belief that he is the root to all misunderstandings in the Masvingo structures,” said the source.
ZimPF national spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire dismissed any plots to demote Mavhaire but said Makova was still chairperson contrary to earlier pronouncements by Retired Colonel Kudzai Mbudzi that indeed Makova had been demoted.
“I do not know where you guys get these developments from. ZimPF is not making any changes now until the national congress. Only the people have a voice in the party and only if they speak on who should fill what post is when we can talk of changes. Even that Makova demotion, we never resolved on anything like that, he is still the Masvingo chairperson,” Mawarire said.
Mavhaire also distanced himself from the squabbles that have engulfed ZimPF and said he is too senior to be involved in petty issues.
“I know nothing about that. Those who try to drag me in those issues do so simply because they want a credible name for their lame issues to be heard. I am the national organiser and Makova is a provincial chair. Would it make any sense for me to be involved in squabbles with my juniors? I am after no one and I am simply doing the party’s business as any other devoted party member is doing.
“I think it would be better to ask people down there, the likes of Chirume, Mudavanhu, Makausi or Uyoyo of such issues. They might have a better picture of what is going on. I am amazed that some people are accusing me of trying to demote Makova because when that happened I was in Chinhoyi on party business. Ndezvekwavo kuzasi ikoko and I am not in any way involved,” Mavhaire said.news

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – The Zanu PF Bikita West primaries which were conducted a fortnight ago have come under scrutiny from embittered Team Lacoste who are accusing the rival G40 faction of rigging the election in favour of their alleged proxy; Beauty Chabaya.
Chabaya, who entered the election as an underdog, stunned her opponents when she polled 1 423 votes ahead of her closest rival; Elias Musakwa who entered the race as a favourite.
Musakwa polled a paltry 540 votes leading to earlier speculation that he was planning to challenge the result though he seems to have eventually given up.
Chabaya’s win proved to be a bitter pill to swallow for members of Team Lacoste who are now fighting Chabaya and her suspected political benefactor, Jappy Joboon, with the aim of scuttling the endorsement of her victory by the party.
Jaboon, who is also the party’s political commissar at provincial level, is suspected to be a kingpin in the G40 faction.
Alleged Team Lacoste frontman and psychomotor minister, Josaya Hungwe is said to be fighting for the matter to be tabled at Friday’s Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting.
Some losing candidates, including Retired Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, have also petitioned Zanu PF over the outcome of the election, alleging gross irregularities in the contact of the polls.
Hungwe, however, kept hanging up the call when TellZim News reached out to him but well-placed sources said the fight to have the result nullified will be escalated in the PCC this Friday.
“We know the election was rigged, no doubt about it. Saying Chabaya won defies logic. She is a virtual unknown in the party. We fear losing the seat to the MDC in 2018 because Zanu PF supporters are disgruntled with the manner the election was held.
“We know that those guys are expert at rigging elections but letting a weak candidate carry the seat now means the seat will be donated to the opposition in 2018,” said the source, who is believed to harbour sympathies for Team Lacoste.
Zanu PF Provincial Chairperson Amasa Nhenjana, who is believed to be fighting in the G40 corner with a deep dislike for Musakwa, rubbished allegations of wrongdoing in the primaries.
“I wonder why people always cry foul when results are presented to them. When you enter into any race, one of two things will happen – either you win or you lose. Losers should learn to face reality and support the winner for the benefit of the party.
“We cannot waste time fighting each other when we have an election to prepare for. The elections in Bikita West were held freely and fairly. Those who say they were rigged should accept reality and not let jealous or factional politics cloud their judgements,” said Nhenjana.
“We are aware of the plot to discredit the results by some members who could not stomach seeing their candidate lose. We will not lose sleep over that neither are we going to allow them to smuggle the matter into the PCC,” Nhenjana added.
TellZim News is also informed that the nascent Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party is fighting its own factional battles, with one faction said to be pushing for Kudakwashe Gopo to be fielded as a candidate, despite Heya Shoko being seen as a better option.news

Lloyd Shunje

Masvingo-born Highlanders star, Gabriel Nyoni has backed his Ductch gaffer Erol Akbay following a series of disappointments which saw the Bulawayo giants registering nine points in 10 Premier Soccer League (PSL) games.
Speaking to TellZim News, Nyoni, a proud product of Pamushana Academy and former Masvingo United player, said the whole club is behind the coach.
“It is just a passing period which we will soon get over, what is very important is that the morale in the club is very high and everyone is close and strongly behind the coach which makes our job easier”, said Nyoni.
In their last 10 games Highlanders were held to a goalless draw by Mutare City then suffered a one nil defeat against Caps United in both the first and the return match before settling for another draw against Triangle.
In the return matches Bosso lost six crucial points to Mutare City and Triangle before sharing spoils with city rivals Chicken Inn. They however lost to Kariba with a one nil margin.
Bosso recently picked form in their last two matches where they collected six points against Howmine and struggling boarder strikers.
Nyoni, who recently finished his Marketing honours degree at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), said he has no plans to leave the club when his contract expires in December this year and will strike a balance between football and career.
“I have no plans to leave my club. I have settled here playing for Bosso, but if any big opportunities comes my way; I will gladly open the door.
“I am pursuing my master’s degree next year and also continuing with football,” said Nyoni.sport

Bothwell Chabarika

The Masvingo Division of the Salvation Army celebrated 125 years of its presence in Zimbabwe with a colourful flag ceremony that was held in Masvingo on Sunday, September 4, 2016.
Present were divisional leaders Majors Isaac and Charity Mhembere, Corps Officers from all corners of the Masvingo Division and other congregates. The division stretches from Featherstone to Beitbridge.
The event was graced by a representative from resident minister Shuvai Mahofa’s office, Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze and his wife, Housing Director Levison Nzvura and prominent lawyer Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana.
Mlambo, the acting director in minister Mahofa’s office, congratulated the Salvation Army for the feat and encouraged the soldiers to remain disciplined and resilient to ensure the church meets all human needs.
She praised the church for supporting the nation in the education and health sectors by building schools and hospitals in some parts of the country. She also acknowledged the work of the church in helping Mucheke Old People’s Home’s to meet its food and other requirements.
Mjr Isaac Mhembere told the congregation that the Salvation Army is looking forward to plant 125 000 trees nationwide to mark the anniversary. In Masvingo Division, the church will plant around 1 000 trees and the first tree was planted by Mlambo at Civic Centre during the ceremony.
Mjr Mhembere said the flag that was received to symbolise the 125 years of the church’s presence in the country was a blessing for Masvingo, which was one of the first areas to make contact with early members of The Salvation Army in the 19th century.
Mayor Fidze praised the work of the church saying the tree planting drive was a valuable contribution to the economy and development of Masvingo.
He also promised to seriously consider the church’s request for a piece of land to build a school in Masvingo.
Speaking at the same occasion, Mangwana congratulated the church and told the gathering that he supported the church efforts in development.
He went on to donate a security fence for one of the projects the Salvation Army is doing in Masvingo and promised that there will be a Salvation Army boarding shool in Chivi.
The Celebrations later moved to Mucheke Corps hall and the flag was handed over to the Mucheke corps which will then pass it on to other corps around the division. Mega celebrations will also be held on September 29 – October 02 at Glamis Arena in Harare.religious news

‘When God blesses you, do not simply rise your standard of living, raise your standard of giving too’ seems to be the motto that Phillip Sibanda, a radio presenter at Wythenshawe FM in Manchester, England, seems to follow.
The 37-year-old presenter flew back home recently and brought heaps of clothes and sports gear for less privileged children and upcoming sports persons in schools around Masvingo.
With Dumisani Mtombeni as one of the trustees, he has also opened a charity arm called Phillip Sibanda Charity Trust.
For a long time, Sibanda has been collecting clothes from well-wishers in English communities and bring them to Zimbabwe to help the needy.
Komborero Garira, the director of Bopoma Children’s Village, received clothes and a printer on behalf of the institution.
“We appreciate the gesture of goodwill that Phillip has been showing us over the years,” said Garira.
Masvingo Toyota, Sibanda’s former workplace, received a bag full of clothes for distribution to the orphaned children of his former workmates.
Sibanda also donated sports kits to Don Bosco Primary School located in Mucheke high density suburb. The kits included sport jerseys, soccer shoes, cones, training bibs and other equipment.
Don Bosco Primary School head, Crescentia Kufa thanked Sibanda for remembering her school.
“We cannot describe the feeling to this amazing act of generosity. We are a Catholic school located in a poor neighbourhood but we have produced soccer stars like Simba Nhivi Sithole against the severe odds,” said Kufa.
ZIFA Assembly member, Rosemary Muzvidziwa and veteran sports administrator, Wellington Muchemwa were there to witness the donations.
Sibanda, who has a perceivable soft spot for the less fortunate, said his goal is to take all homeless children off the streets.
He also hopes to set-up an academy where talent it observed and nurtured so that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can actualise their dreams.
“We have travelled a long road so far along which we met both fantastic inspirations and discouraging set-backs but I would like to thank God for all the support we get,” said Sibanda.news