COMPLAINANTS APPLAUDE MHRC FINDINGS

Complainants in the sexual harassment at Malawi Broadcasting Station (MBC) and shooting and death of the Malawi Polytechnic student Blessings Nyondo have expressed satisfaction with findings released on Monday by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on the matters.

This follows reports that on 29 July 2020 MHRC received a complaint from the Human Rights Defender Coalition (HRDC) Women Chapter on alleged sexual harassment of female employees by the former Director-General of the MBC Aubrey Sumbuleta.

Chairperson for the Women Chapter Beatrice Mateyu has commended the findings saying they are pleased that they have exposed how Sumbuleta harassed the employees sexually.

Mateyu added that her office will be following up on ensuring compliance with recommendations by MHRC on sexual abuse at MBC.

“We look forward to seeing that women are compensated but also the redress mechanism are put in place and are well known by everybody else,” said Mateyu.

In another report, the commission has also revealed that the MBC security officer shot Blessings Nyondo, a University of Malawi Polytechnic Student who later died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

Meanwhile, cousin to late Nyondo, Phillip Mkandawire who is following up on the matter on Nyondo’s family’s behalf has also commended the commission and media in pursuing justice for his cousin.

Mkandawire said the findings are just a break of an iceberg to Nyondo’s justice.

“As a family, we are very happy, and we believe we will see through to the conclusion of this story of Blessings Nyondo,” said Mkandawire.

According to the reports, Nyondo was shot as he was running away from the thugs when he sorts refuge in a vehicle in which the security officer was among the people therein.