Woman dismissed for “superstitious reasons” – October 2009

A 32 year old female professional physiotherapist was expelled from struggling Premiership soccer giants Dynamos after the club’s leadership surrendered to pressure from a superstitious group accusing the woman of being responsible for club losses.

Abigail Munikwa, who has been the club’s physiotherapist, was ordered to leave her post by leadership as she was blamed of the club's failure in the past weeks which resulted in them losing pole position in the Premiership race. The club’s leadership and representatives of their fans in Harare held a meeting recently and resolved that Munikwa’s services be terminated immediately because her presence on the bench was affecting the club’s “magical powers”. They believe such magical powers do not work if a woman is involved.

Munikwa is reported to have been dismissed upon arrival at a local hotel in Harare as she was checking into camp. She said she was given a draft contract, for three years, which she had not yet signed and would demand every cent from that contract.

Munikwa said: “It was embarrassing, being told at the hotel that my services were no longer required. I felt betrayed and abused and I am definitely going to take legal action against Dynamos so that they give me what belongs to me.” 

Her dismissal has been condemned by a Social Development Consultant George Zimbizi, who described her dismissal as criminal and immoral, and at tangent with Zimbabwe’s National Gender Policy.

Zimbizi said: “Dynamos have been winning and losing games for the past three years with the same medic, so what makes their current predicament so peculiar to warrant the discrimination of an innocent woman?”

• Have you been unfairly dismissed? Learn about your rights and the Labour Laws in Zimbabwe.