MBC sexual allegations report vindicate women

The release of a report by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on sexual allegations at Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Monday vindicated current and former female employees, who rejoiced on the outcome.

The report found the taxpayer-funded institution’s former director general Aubrey Sumbuleta guilty of sexually harassing female employees.

It is alleged the monstrous acts occurred on numerous occasions, mostly in his office.

Reacting to the outcome of the investigations on Monday, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) member Beatrice Mateyo said they were happy the investigations proved sexual harassment at the institution.

She said: “We are very happy that the investigations have revealed that indeed there have been cases of sexual harassment at the institution.

“We also welcome one of the recommendations made that there will be an audit in all institutions on compliance with the Gender Equality Act.”

Mateyo described the audit as a right step taken in the right direction as it will help address a larger situation and not just MBC alone.

She said female employees continue to suffer in various workplaces; hence, the report will act as a deterrent measure to other would-be offenders and those that are continuing with such acts.

One of the recommendations in the report is that MHRC, being a custodian of the Gender Equality Act, will undertake an audit of all institutions on their compliance with the provisions of the Act and ensure that they have sexual harassment work place policies.

Malawi Institute of Media and Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi chapter chairperson Teresa Ndanga, said on Tuesday  the report has set very good precedence in as far as sexual harassment at the workplace is concerned.

She said: “We hope that it can encourage more women in the media sector and beyond to report such cases since it is now clear that perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.”

Ndanga also said as Misa Malawi, they would encourage media houses to establish strong systems and policies on dealing with sexual harassment at the workplace.

She said there is need to create a safe working environment for both sexes.

The report has since recommended that the victims seek compensation and that police should institute criminal proceedings against Sumbuleta, who denied allegations during investigative hearings.

Initially, over eight female employees from the parastatal were allegedly sexually assaulted during the tenure of the former MBC boss.

However, only four women willingly testified, the rest excused themselves as they had not explained the ordeal to their spouses; hence, they did not want the issue in the public domain.

MHRC’s report was read by chairperson of the commission’s gender and women’s rights committee, Stella Twea.

She highlighted some unpleasant scenarios that put victims in strange positions.

For instance, the report highlights a situation where Sumbuleta allegedly asked one of his victims to bend over, pull up her skirt so that he could masturbate and ejaculate while looking at her nakedness.

In the same scenario, Sumbuleta is alleged to have asked the victim who she is dating using degrading vernacular  before he flushed out his private parts so that she can satisfy him.

Reads the report: “On one occasion, Ms Mussa [not real name] testified that, having concluded a meeting which had been called by Mr Sumbuleta after working hours, he asked her in venacular kodi akudya izi ndindani [who is having sex with you].

“He then moved close to her, unzipped his trousers and fished out his penis and held it in his hands showing her and said simungatithandize [gratify me].”

While some of Sumbuleta’s victims were frustrated through, among others, demotions, some voluntarily resigned once the working environment had become unfavourable for turning down his advances.

According to the report, Sumbuleta’s actions were in contravention to Section Six of the Gender Equality Act. He, however, denies the allegations.