Four female employees working for a Nigerian businessman from 2018 are living in truama after being subjected to inhuman treatment.
By Desire Tshuma
According to the two of the four employees, Noma and Chipo they were traumatized.
“I was left in charge of the shop which sells PA systems by our employer Chamberlain when he went to Nigeria for a holiday in December 2021 .
” I ordered my co-workmates not to come at work with anything except phones as a measure to avoid theft ,and all understood but we got the shock of our lives when our employer Mr Chamberlain came back from Nigerian and started to accuse us that we stole from him , said Noma
She narrated further that the businessman had a girlfriend who could come during Mr Chamberlain’s absence demanding money.
“This girlfriend of hers would ask for money but I insisted she sign for the money for accountability but she would refuse.
“I notified Mr Chamberlain about the issue ,” narrated Noma.
After coming from Holiday, Mr Chamberlain is believed to have developed temper and insulting workers frequently. At one point he held the workers captive.
“One day he ordered us to surrender our phones and locked us inside the shop. He would escort us when we were visiting the toilet,”narrates Chipo.
The businessman hired his friend to harass the ladies while his girlfriend called two unidentified men who came armed with a gun who subjected the four to torture.
“He hired his friend to come and harass us.
“All this was happening in the presence of his girlfriend who told Mr Chamberlain that she has two men whom she knows that they can deal with these employees.
” The girlfriend phoned the guys who came with a brown short gun and did not introduce themselves and started to beat us asking where the money was,” she added.
The ladies claim they were beated while naked from 1700hrs till 1900hrs before they were coerced to write statements admitting guilt.
This reporter contacted the businessman who threatened him and referred him to his lawyer.
The ladies have since reported the matter at Harare Central Police but have been advised to withdraw the charges as Mr Chamberlain bribes police officers.
“I was told frankly by one police officer to withdraw the case and as I was coming out of the station got the shock of my life to see one of the guys who tortured us.
” He seemed like he works from there, “said Noma.
Cases of harassment at work by foreign business men are rarely reported in Zimbabwe , victims claim they are scared of loosing jobs if they report .Efforts to get comment from the National Police Spokesperson were fruitless as his phone was not reachable.
