EDZAI Isu Trust has suspended its director Tafadzwa
Muzondo, who recently appeared in court facing charges of indecent assault
after allegedly fondling songbird Pauline Gundidza’s breasts during a function
in Highfield, Harare last week.
Programmes officer Obrien Makore will be the acting
director. Muzondo was remanded to April 16 on $100 bail when he appeared before
Mbare magistrate Stanford Mambanje on Wednesday.
Edzai Isu chairperson Patience Gamuchirai Tawengwa said in
a statement yesterday that Muzondo would be on suspension pending the outcome
of the court case, with the organisation also conducting its own hearing on the
matter.
“The matter is before the courts and as we eagerly await
for the outcome, we have suspended him pending the outcome of the case,” she
said.
“As an organisation, we do not condone violence in whatever
form, so we are taking this case seriously and expect him to clear his name in
court before he can continue his duties. We will also constitute our own
internal hearing as soon as the court case is finalised.”
Tawengwa said they observed the principle that a person was
presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“In that regard, we will not second-guess the courts and
will wait on the outcome of the case before issuing out further statements,”
she said.
Tawengwa said the board was also committed to facilitating
the formulation of an arts industry sexual harassment policy under the guidance
of the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers
Association (ZWLA) and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission
(ZGC).
“Over the years, the trust has always intentionally sought
to create a safe space for female artistes,” she said.
When Muzondo appeared in court this week, prosecutor
Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that on March 28, Gundidza was at Action Hub Studio
where she had been invited as a guest alongside other artistes.
The court heard that after the function, as Gundidza
awaited transport with her friends, Mariane Kunonga and Rolland “Boss Kedha”
Lunga, Muzondo allegedly remarked that Gundidza had beautiful breasts.
This annoyed the urban groover who then told her friends
what had happened.
Kunonga and Boss Kedha allegedly warned the accused that it
was not right to comment on someone’s breasts without her consent.
It is, however, alleged that Muzondo leaned towards the
musician and fondled her breasts before going back to join his crew. Newsday
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