Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) has sent on forced leave its manager at Regional Service Centre — South, Conceptor Kachoka, after an employee at the centre Sophie Nyirenda committed suicide due to alleged harassment.
Nyirenda, the daughter of Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, was working at TEVETA as Assistant Training Program Specialist and she died by suicide at her house in the early hours of November 3, 2022 in Chinyonga township in Blantyre.
There have been allegations that Nyirenda was being harassed and abused by her boss at TEVETA.
Reports indicate that Nyirenda was shouted at and this made her to stop going to work from Monday the 31st of October, 2022.
When her workmates visited her at her house in Chinyonga, she reportedly told them that she was not interested in going to work due to the harassment.
At Nyirenda’s funeral ceremony in Rumphi, according to reports, family members expressed concern over the alleged abuse Nyirenda suffered and they urged TEVETA to take action.
In a letter dated November 7, 2022 and addressed to staff, TEVETA executive director Elwin Sichiola, said management has taken note of the allegations bordering on workplace harassment.
“Management has with immediate effect sent Mrs Conceptor Kachoka on leave up until investigations are concluded.
“In her absence, Mr Jordan Banda shall act as the Regional Service Centre Manager,” he said.
TEVETA has since set up a team comprising Ministry of Labour representative, three TEVETA members and TEVETA’s legal counsel to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, TEVETA has arranged mandatory group counselling and voluntary one on one counselling for staff following the suicide case.
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