Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Probes Alleged Firing of HIV-Positive Woman

 

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has launched an investigation into a shocking case where a female security guard was allegedly fired from her job simply because she is HIV-positive.

The woman, a 40-year-old widow from Entumbane, had been working for a security company based in Bulawayo. According to her, everything changed after she went for a routine medical visit to Gokwe. Even though the company approved her medical leave, they later asked her to provide proof of her health status. After she did, she was reportedly dismissed from her job.

Sources say the order to request her medical records came from an administrator at the company's Bulawayo office. This has raised serious concerns about discrimination and abuse of workers’ rights.

ZHRC Chairperson, Jessie Majome, strongly criticized the company’s actions, calling them “unacceptable violations of fundamental rights.” She made the statement while attending an international human rights conference in The Gambia, and promised that the Commission would carry out a full investigation.

Majome pointed out that firing someone over their HIV status could break several constitutional rights — including the right to personal dignity, freedom from discrimination, medical privacy, protection from degrading treatment, fair labour practices, and access to healthcare. She added that if the woman’s rights were truly violated, the ZHRC would push for accountability and make sure she gets justice.

At the moment, the security company involved has not released any public statement. But legal experts say if the allegations are true, the firm could face serious legal trouble and a damaged reputation under Zimbabwean law.