News / Local
People now perceived me as a 'slut': Dethroned model
29 Jun 2011 at 09:34hrs | Views
Lungile Mathe, the Dethroned Tourism Zimbabwe's Miss Personality, says she strongly feels Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke owes her an apology for calling her a woman of "loose morals".
Mathe was dethroned last month after the ZTA boss described her conduct as "unbecoming behaviour that was threatening the integrity of ZTA".
Her case is now before a gender committee for review, before a decision can be made.
In an interview on her return from South Africa, where she had been for the past few weeks, trying to secure a study permit, Mathe said Kaseke should just swallow his pride and apologise to her for diminishing her character.
"The boss owes me an apology. What he said about me was so humiliating and the Press had a field day over his remarks. I have been belittled to the extent that I cannot even walk around town without getting weird remarks and glares from people.
"The way I was dethroned was not fair because my side of the story was not considered nor did they even want to hear it. If he doesn't apologise I will also take measures," said Mathe.
Mathe insists she deserved a right to be heard and was grateful to the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Cde Walter Mzembi, for providing a platform for her to explain herself.
"The way I was dismissed was not fair. I was never given a chance to explain myself. No one has the right to call me a woman of loose morals. How could the boss say that? Did he ever sleep with me for him to make such a statement?" asked Mathe.
Mathe said she deserved the Miss Personality title; after all she had won it fair and square.
"It's every girl's dream to represent her country. I worked hard to get that title. I managed to beat 34 other participants and it was all washed down the drain because of some silly rumours that someone decided to believe," she said.
Mathe said Kaseke should have acted professionally and not let his emotions get the best of him.
"I don't have a grudge against Kaseke, in fact, I look up to him as a fatherly figure. Perhaps he reacted the way he did because things blew out of proportion and he was under pressure. Nonetheless, he reacted in a wrong manner and I still stand by my words, he owes my family and I an apology. He should have called me for a hearing and not call me by all those defamatory names," she said.
Mathe added that all the name-calling had diminished her character to the extent that people now perceived her as a "slut" her own words).
"You know the damage has been done, I have a life after ZTA. I want to study or even visit other countries such as the UK but because of what I have been described as I can be denied a visa or even a place to study," she added.
Mathe was dethroned last month after the ZTA boss described her conduct as "unbecoming behaviour that was threatening the integrity of ZTA".
Her case is now before a gender committee for review, before a decision can be made.
In an interview on her return from South Africa, where she had been for the past few weeks, trying to secure a study permit, Mathe said Kaseke should just swallow his pride and apologise to her for diminishing her character.
"The boss owes me an apology. What he said about me was so humiliating and the Press had a field day over his remarks. I have been belittled to the extent that I cannot even walk around town without getting weird remarks and glares from people.
"The way I was dethroned was not fair because my side of the story was not considered nor did they even want to hear it. If he doesn't apologise I will also take measures," said Mathe.
Mathe insists she deserved a right to be heard and was grateful to the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Cde Walter Mzembi, for providing a platform for her to explain herself.
Mathe said she deserved the Miss Personality title; after all she had won it fair and square.
"It's every girl's dream to represent her country. I worked hard to get that title. I managed to beat 34 other participants and it was all washed down the drain because of some silly rumours that someone decided to believe," she said.
Mathe said Kaseke should have acted professionally and not let his emotions get the best of him.
"I don't have a grudge against Kaseke, in fact, I look up to him as a fatherly figure. Perhaps he reacted the way he did because things blew out of proportion and he was under pressure. Nonetheless, he reacted in a wrong manner and I still stand by my words, he owes my family and I an apology. He should have called me for a hearing and not call me by all those defamatory names," she said.
Mathe added that all the name-calling had diminished her character to the extent that people now perceived her as a "slut" her own words).
"You know the damage has been done, I have a life after ZTA. I want to study or even visit other countries such as the UK but because of what I have been described as I can be denied a visa or even a place to study," she added.
Source - Chronicle
