HARASSMENT AT WORK Editor, Allow me to comment on recent publications concerning harassment at workplaces. The reason most Africans are taken advantage of, humiliated and dehumanised in their own territories by foreigners is the high levels of poverty. We have inherited this trait of being lifelong labourers for other races. Getting a reasonable job is like striking gold and just the thought of losing it, is like entering the doldrums once again. That’s why we have allowed ourselves to endure any form of humiliation. The womenfolk are more vulnerable than men because they have so much to offer. Mwila’s ordeal is just a tip of the iceberg. How many young girls out there are being abused, but stay mute just to keep their jobs? The figure is phenomenal. The only solution is to fight corruption, poverty and punish the perpetrators. Deportations won’t solve the problem! How many managers would you have to lay off, if all the abused women were to come out in the open? You would have very few companies left! Men should start respecting women at all costs because they endure so much pain in bearing us. We owe them a lot. However, women should also be cautious with their dressing at places of work. Nowadays, you can hardly distinguish between one who is marketing or advertising and one who is ‘happily’ married. We have all this quagmire at the expense of fashion? Men should also learn to get preoccupied with more productive things such as going to national parks, where their eyes can be more useful than having them stray in forbidden territories. Remember, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Hardy Siwale
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 07:56:22 +0000