Teveta launches staff harassment probe
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Training Authority (Teveta) has launched an investigation into allegations of staff harassment at its Southern Region office and sent on forced leave its regional service centre manager Conceptor Kachoka.
The investigation comes against a background of the death by suicide of the authority’s assistant training programme specialist Sophie Nyirenda. She was found dead in her house in Chinyonga Township, Blantyre last week.
In an internal memo dated November 7 2022 signed by Teveta executive director Elwin Sichiola, the authority said it had taken note of harassment allegations at its regional service centre in the South and that the institution takes the allegations seriously.
The memo stated that considering the circumstances surrounding Nyirenda’s death, Teveta’s first priority was to ensure that she was laid to rest with all the dignity she deserved before taking further action.
Reads the memo in part: “Management has with immediate effect, sent Mrs. Conceptor Kachoka on leave up until investigations are concluded. In her absence, Mr. Jordan Banda shall act as the regional service centre manager.
“Management has immediately set up an independent team comprising a representative from the office of the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations, Ministry of Labour representative, three Teveta members of staff and its legal counsel who will act as secretariat to investigate the matter.”
Efforts to get Kachoka reaction proved futile as she could not be reached by phone.
Reports on the social media following Nyirenda’s death suggested that she committed suicide following ill-treatment and harassment at her workplace.
