Metro

Lusaka woman sues Zambian hotel Taj Pamodzi over alleged sexual abuse

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2024

A Lusaka-based woman, Mwansa Charity Njelesani, has sued the management of popular Zambian hotel, Taj Pamodzi Hotel Plc, alongside one of its employee, Kenneth Musonda, over an alleged sexual abuse she suffered during a massage session at its Jiva Spa in 2022.

In the lawsuit filed in the Lusaka High Court, Njelesani, a resident of Lusaka’s New Kasama, is seeking compensation for the alleged sexual abuse after she accused Musonda, a masseuse at the hotel, of sexually assaulting her on May 24, 2022, by touching her private parts.

Njelesani said she first had a massage session at the hotel’s jiva spa on April 1, 2022, and on the day of the assault, only male masseuses were available.

The plaintiff said agreed to be attended by a male masseuse and Musonda professionly conducted the mesaage.

The suit filing stated that on May 24, 2022, she returned to Taj Pamodzi for another massage session and despite the availability of female masseuses, she recommended that Musonda attended to her owing to his previous professional conduct.

She then alleged that during the course of the session, Musonda started massaging “private and erogenous zones” on her body and that she immediately went into “tonic immobility.”

“The Plaintiff avers that while in the state of tonic immobility, she tried to wriggle away but felt trapped in her body ard helpless,” the lawsuit said.

“The first defendant (Musonda) then continued to assault her by asking her unbefitting questions such as if he could ejaculate on her to which the Plaintiff said no.”

She further alleged that the defendant attempted to pick her nipples to which she gained her mobility, moved her body away and managed to shove Musonda off.

“Being a former victim of sexual abuse, she was immediately retraumatized by the first defendant’s actions which led to her tonic mobility and her out of body experience.”

Njelesani said she informed the husband about the abuse and proceeded to report the defendant to hotel senior management.

“That after follow-ups with the second defendant, the hotel responded in writing to the Plaintiff on the 16th of June, 2022, stating that Musonda could not be found wanting. The Plaintiff further avers that the above response was given to her without her being availed with a proper investigation report,” the lawsuit stated.

Dissatisfied with management’s response, Njelesani said she requested that she and her husband be allowed to view the CCTV to prove the sexual abuse, but the CCTV did not have footage of the assault.

Njelesani stated that due to the sexual harassment, she suffered emotional harm, mental damage, re-trauma, depression, shock, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and financial loss and is seeking compensatory damages from Musonda for the indecent assault and the hotel to pay damages arising out of the negligent discharge of duty to carry out investigations and failure to provide a secure environment.

Related Topics:Featured Lusaka Sexual Abuse Taj Pamodzi

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Metro

‘Rights must go with responsibilities,’ traditional leader cautions on use of social media

Published

11 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Mansa, Luapula Province: Annette Katema, the Head Woman of Chitumbi Village in Mansa District, voices concerns about the detrimental effects of irresponsible social media usage.

In a recent interview with Zambia Monitor, Katema argued that social media platforms were contributing to delinquency among the youth, particularly platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Children are being exposed to inappropriate content on WhatsApp, which is harmful to their upbringing. Social media platforms are fostering moral decay,” remarked Head Woman Chitumbi.

She stated that this trend undermined the cultural values that were essential for societal cohesion.

Katema expressed reservations about the prevalence of nudity and offensive language on social media, calling for stricter moderation.

She advocated for proactive measures to steer young people away from harmful online content, suggesting the revitalization of traditional recreational activities like playhouses and sports.

“Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, let’s invest in creating positive alternatives to counter the allure of social media,” Katema proposed.

She urged the youth to uphold traditional values alongside their digital rights, stating the importance of responsible behavior online.

“We should not lose respect in the name of digital rights because rights should go with responsibilities,” the traditional leader said.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

President Tinubu finally returns to Nigeria amid speculations over his absence

Published

15 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After spending the last two weeks out of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has finally returned to the country.

Tinubu, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday morning, had departed the country two weeks ago, on April 23, for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the European country, Tinubu participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

After his engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, proceeded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development which held between April 28–29.

However, after the summit, the president did not return to the country as he was said to have proceeded to London for a private visit which gave room to speculations over his health.

The Nigerian Presidency did not also help matters as there was no official statement on the President’s engagements, nor were they willing to douse the tension created by his absence, leading to Nigerians raising posers with the hashtag #WhereisTinubu.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed that Tinubu would be back in the country on Wednesday.

“President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” he had written.

The recent foreign trip was Tinubu’s 20th since assuming office on May 29, 2023, effectively logging 96 days abroad, which has made him one of Africa’s most globe-trotting leaders.

In his less than one year in office, President Tinubu has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic, New Delhi, India.

He has also taken a trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.