The children and spouses of the former Lobels Biscuits employees in Bulawayo on Friday staged peaceful protests at the company’s Belmont factory.
The demonstration followed the sacking of more than 400 workers by the company for protesting sexual harassment, nepotism and low wages.
The workers accused Lobels Biscuits’ Chief operations officer Andrew Dinhidza, of sexual harassment and oppression and were demanding his dismissal.
One of the affected workers, Jeremani Serepiya, said their children are no longer going to school. She said:
<blockquote>
The children are here to just tell the management that they have hit hard times following the dismissal of their benefactors.
The children are no longer going to school because their parents cannot afford school fees, uniforms and food.
I was one of the workers who was fired and my pastor assisted me with buying books for my children. I am a widow and I cannot afford to sustain my family.
As we speak, we have been interdicted by the High Court not to set foot at the company’s premises.
We have been trying to seek an audience with the company’s management, but it seems they are not interested in meeting us.
</blockquote>
A Form Four pupil whose father was fired by Lobels Biscuits said she was last week expelled from school because her school fees were not paid. She said:
<blockquote>
The company should just understand our plight as children.
It really pains me that I am no longer able to go to school because my father was unlawfully dismissed.
If the company refuses to listen to our plight we will be forced to write to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/spouses-and-children-of-sacked-lobels-biscuits-workers-storm-the-factory/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Pindula News

Spouses, Children Of Fired Lobels Biscuits Workers Protest At The Factory

Lobels Biscuits Company in Bulawayo’s chief operations officer (COO) Andrew Dinhidza has been arrested for allegedly sexually attacking several female subordinates who feared losing their jobs.
B-Metro reported a source as saying four women had since filed rape charges against Dinhidza.
<h2>Complainant One</h2>
According to the B-Metro source, one of the victims is a 29-year-old woman who is employed as a packer. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Sometime in 2017, the 29-year-old woman went to look for a job at Lobels Biscuits Company at the time Dinhidza was the Human Resources Manager and he recruited her.
After that, he approached her demanding payment for employing her. At first, she turned down his request, but he threatened to expel her, forcing her to give in and slept with him.
Sometime in October this year, the woman said Dinhidza called her to his office and demanded to have sex with her and she did not resist because she was afraid of losing her job.
</blockquote>
The woman then reported the rape incidents at Kumalo Police station after protests were recently staged against Dinhidza over allegations of nepotism and sexual harassment.
<h2>Complainant Two</h2>
The alleged rape victim is a 33-year-old woman who resides in Nkulumane suburb.
Allegations are that the woman failed to report for duty for two consecutive days.
When she eventually reported for duty she informed her immediate supervisor who allegedly turned her away. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Desperate for her job, she approached Dinhidza who told her that if she wanted to save her job she must have sex with him and she agreed before they had sex in his office and her job was saved.
</blockquote>
The victim reported the alleged rape at Donnington Police Station on Tuesday last week.
<h2>Complainant Three</h2>
A 40-year-old woman from Entumbane suburb was allegedly sexually attacked by Dinhidza when he called her to his office and asked her if she wanted to be employed permanently.
<blockquote>
He promised the complainant that if she wants to be employed as a permanent worker she has to sleep with him and she agreed before he drove to a lodge in the city centre and had sex with her.
</blockquote>
It is further alleged that the two had sex on another occasion in Dinhidza car near the company premises.
However, Dinhidza reportedly never fulfilled his promise.
On 7 December the woman joined a protest against all forms of abuse and later filed a rape case against Dinhidza at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
<h2>Complainant Four</h2>
A 37-year-old woman who is employed as a machine operator reportedly fell prey to Dinhidza after she approached him to have her husband who had been fired reinstated. Said the source:
<blockquote>
She approached Dinhidza in his office and pleaded with him to have her husband re-hired but Dinhidza told her that he could only be reinstated on condition that she had sex with him and she bowed down to the demands and had sex with him. After that, the victim’s husband was re-hired.
On another occasion, he picked her up at the company premises and had sex with her at a lodge.
</blockquote>
The woman reported the alleged rape cases at Donnington Police Station on 7 December 2022 leading to Dinhidza’s arrest.
The alleged rape victims and about 496 aggrieved employees are being represented by their lawyers Task Vhiki and Mary Nyika of Macharaga Law Chambers. | <a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/lobels-chief-nabbed-over-rape-sexual-harassment/">B-Metro</a>

Lobels Boss Arrested Over Sexual Harassment

Workers at the Lobels Biscuits Belmont plant on Wednesday staged a demonstration at the company’s premises against alleged sexual harassment, nepotism, and low wages among other complaints.
The workers accuse the management of ignoring their grievances for a long time, hence the decision to embark on job action.
The employees accuse the chief operating officer Andrew Dinhidza of employing his relatives and children in most of the senior positions at the company.
One worker who refused to be named for fear of victimisation told <a href="https://cite.org.zw/lobels-workers-stage-demo-want-coo-sacked/">CITE</a> that workers are also being subjected to sexual harassment. Said the worker:
<blockquote>
We are experiencing quite a number of problems here, ranging from poor working conditions, ill-treatment, sexual abuse, low wages and failure to backdate our salaries from 2020. However, nepotism and sexual abuse seem to have worsened our plight here.
Dinhidza has given all managerial and supervisor posts to his relatives and sons who do not even qualify to occupy those positions. That’s why we are saying he should go.
There is a lot of sexual abuse and victimization here. It’s hard to keep your job because there are too many conditions or else you lose your job.
If they fire you for you to come back they ask you to meet in town for talks so that they ask for sexual favours. We are tired of being used, Dinhidza should go.
</blockquote>
Proper Mahachi, who is the former Lobels Biscuit workers union chair, and was reportedly fired for pushing for better working conditions, said:
<blockquote>
We were dismissed for knowing our right, we stood for the workers, and we were dismissed without any benefit and pay.
I was fired for engaging other stakeholders like the Gender Commission and the Zimbabwe Federations of Trade Union, because we knew our rights.
I am happy the workers have finally got tired of this abuse and they have stood for their rights.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Federations of Trade Union (ZFTU) spokesperson Pardon Mangena who was present at the demonstration, said:
<blockquote>
We were approached by these workers raising a number of issues. One of the most outstanding issues was that of nepotism, where a whole CEO employs relatives and son, without even advertising the posts.
Promotions are just being done without following proper procedures and most of them do not qualify for those posts.
I am made to believe that since 2020 there has been a huge backlog of salaries and the employer is not forthcoming on the matter.
There are issues of sexual abuse where many women have raised alarm but nothing has been done to address the matter.
Surprisingly the Managing director has failed to investigate all these matters that have been raised here.
It’s sad that such a big company with over 600 workers can be run like a tuck shop.
</blockquote>
Mangena also noted that the workers were not happy with the company’s decision to deduct 15 percent from their salaries following an armed robbery that took place.
Lobels lost R16.7 million (about US$1.1 million) and US$80 000 in cash when armed robbers raided its offices in March. | <a href="https://cite.org.zw/lobels-workers-stage-demo-want-coo-sacked/">CITE</a>

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