Ex-Moam boss accused of sexual assault

Some female employees at the Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (Moam) have lodged a sexual harassment complaint with Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic) allegedly perpetrated by their former boss Coxley Kamange.

Cilic projects manager Felix Chikalira confirmed handling the complaint while some of the women also confirmed in separate interviews having been sexually assaulted by the expelled Moam general secretary.

Said Chikalira: “I can confirm that we have that complaint from the five women. We understand the issue concerns 16 women employees but the rest were reportedly shy to come.

“As Cilic, we were very saddened by the alleged conduct and we are currently consulting on the way forward because when it reaches such level we usually have partners to pick up the matter. We have also been in touch with Moam.”

He said the women claimed they were forced to have sexual relations but could not say no for fear of losing their employment.

But when contacted Kamange said: “I don’t know anything. I am hearing it from you, so I have nothing to comment.”

Two of the women, who did not want to be identified, narrated in an interview with the Nation Online that they got their jobs as traffic wardens after providing sexual favours to Kamange.

Before his dismissal, one of the reasons for his suspension was his misconduct with female employees. But when Nation Online sought his reaction then, he refused to comment on the charges levelled against him.

Another woman said she got the courage to lodge the matter with Cilic after the alleged culprit was dismissed from the association. The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity as she is married, said they want him to answer for his alleged misdeeds.

“I wanted the job because I had a family to support… I felt sorry for myself. It broke my heart.  After I got the job, these things kept happening so frequently,” she narrated.

She said sometimes she would get threats of losing employment and she did not want to risk it.

Another married woman said she always gets confused when thinking about the incidences.

“It was against my will, and God knows. I respect my husband and I always feel guilty that until now, I have carried on this heavy secret. I have suffered this trauma for a long time. I am troubled,” she said.

Another woman, who separated from her husband before she got a job at Moam, said they had been complaining to other senior officials within the association without any help.

“I could not afford to lose my job because I had children to look after. I was a voiceless victim,” she said.

Both Moam national chairperson Christopher Chisesele and treasurer Misheck Munthali said they were aware of the allegations against Kamange.

Said Chisesele: “There was a committee that was put in place to deliberate on the issue so yes I am aware that some women did complain to the association.”

On his part Munthali said when the committee, which was chaired by Harrison Yekesi, received the complaint they summoned Kamange but he snubbed the meetings.

“Some women indeed complained and a committee was set up but every time he was called he never turned up until his expulsion.. That was one of the major reasons he was dismissed from the association,” he said.

But human rights advocate and social commentator Undule Mwakasungura described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable.

“Women must at all cost be protected. This must further be investigated and make sure we stop such type of behaviour. The nation must stand up and stop manipulation and abuse of women. Women themselves must also stand up and resist to be sexually abused,” he said.

Despite the laid down laws that protect women, sexual harassment at workplaces continues to occur in the country, with most victims not willing to reveal their ordeals.