CSO rebukes sexual abuse by foreigners

Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) has demanded action from police and Shayona Cement Corporation following revelations of alleged sexual abuse, including sodomy by the company’s former employee.

In a statement dated April 10 2024, Cdedi said it has analysed two complaints linked to one Jayesh Kumar Dalwad, an Indian who was working as an assistant manager at the company.

Signed by Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa, the statement said they received a dossier of letters and a 17:26 minute video.

According to Cdedi, the clip shows a foreign national allegedly abusing a male housekeeper (name withheld) who was forced to caress his male boss’s genitals as a precondition to keep his job.

Reads the statement: “Tired of the sickening ordeal, the worker reported the matter to his superiors who, on several occasions, dismissed him purportedly due to lack of evidence. In an act of sympathy, a fellow employee offered the abused worker a smartphone; hence, the recording of the video that brings to light the dehumanising ordeal.”

A letter The Nation has seen with reference number SLHR/2024/04/28 dated March 28 2024 titled ‘Closure of an issue reported verbally to human resources department’ signed by Luke Dzimbiri, who is human resource supervisor at Shayona Cement Corporation at Kanengo in Lilongwe, formalises the closure of the case.

Cdedi, however, said the male worker’s complaint was neglected on pretext that the suspect had fled, and that the matter was not reported to management on time.

Cdedi said they have tried to engage management at the Shayona Kanengo office, the company’s head office, including their managing director who said the company suspended Dalwad after learning about the shocking video.

The statement says Cdedi’s investigations show that Dalwad left Malawi for India through Kamuzu International Airport on March 21 2024.

But in a written response on Thursday, Shayona Cement Corporation managing director Jitendra Patel dismissed the Cdedi statement as “mostly untrue”.

He said the matter was being handled by their lawyers.

Said Patel: “The victim is also at fault. And I was very upset with both. Once I knew about it, I immediately took action by suspending the expatriate for more findings. The case is being handled by our lawyers.”