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The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has launched an investigation into allegations that a Bulawayo-based security firm dismissed a female employee solely due to her HIV-positive status. The 40-year-old widow from Entumbane, who had worked as a security guard, claims she was fired after her employer requested proof of her health condition following a scheduled medical visit to Gokwe. Although the company initially approved her medical leave, officials later insisted on documentation regarding her HIV status before terminating her employment.
Sources suggest that the request for her medical records came from an administrator at the company’s Bulawayo office, raising concerns about potential discrimination and violations of employee rights. In response, the ZHRC has taken up the case, with Chairperson Jessie Majome condemning the company’s actions as a possible violation of fundamental human rights. Speaking from an international human rights conference in Gambia, Majome described the dismissal as an “unacceptable violation of fundamental rights,” and pledged the commission’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation.
Majome highlighted that the alleged termination could breach several constitutional protections, including the right to personal dignity, protection against discrimination, freedom from degrading treatment, medical privacy, fair labor practices, and access to healthcare. She assured that the ZHRC would work to ensure accountability and explore appropriate remedies for the affected woman if the violations are proven.
As the investigation continues, the security company at the center of the controversy has not made any public statements. However, legal experts caution that if the claims are substantiated, the company could face significant legal and reputational consequences under Zimbabwean law.
