Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi | 30 women in the lowveld town of Chiredzi were duped and sexually abused by two men in a notorious job scam.
As a result of socio-economic challenges in the country, the desperate women were tricked into believing the two men were representatives of World Vision, a highly respected humanitarian organisation.
The incident reflects the magnitude of the desperation for employment in the country. Economists postulate the unemployment rate is above 80% in Zimbabwe.
The two suspects, Tawanda Dhliwayo and Louis Mushati appeared before Chiredzi Magistrate Constance Mutandwa last week, facing fraud charges.
The women, from the popular Tshovani suburb in Chiredzi were made to pay $10 each as joining fee. They would report at an open ground on a daily basis where they attended lecturers in preparation for the supposed employment.
They were told they would be deployed to various districts across the country.
The two men also asked for sexual favours from the women in exchange for job security and it is understood some of the women gave in to the men’s demands. Several of them visited the two men’s respective houses to extend sexual favours in return for job security.
In a shocking revelation, one of the affected women told ZimEye.com several ladied including herself were sexually abused by the two men.
Speaking on condition of anonymity the woman said:”It is difficult to press charges against the men since there was consent but the truth is it is a painful experience. We were promised jobs so we fell into their trap. Several women visited the conmen’s houses separately.”
Many people have been abused in the country as a result of the current economic mayhem the nation is experiencing. It is widely believed the economic meltdown is a direct result of bad policies and decades of misrule by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.