Stripping at interviews and posing semi-naked; what kind of job interview is that?!

Keletso Thobega | Wednesday January 22, 2014 18:48

She told of how, after responding to an advert for a marketing assistant vacancy, she was called in for an interview. After a brief questionnaire she was asked to take off her clothes and pose semi-naked in front of a camera. Surprised, she enquired how marketing was linked to her stripping. The irate interviewer gave a vague explanation and barked at her to follow instructions. Realizing that she could be dealing with a mad man, the lady suggested that she return the next day with proper attire as she was wearing old torn underwear. Shaken, she bolted out of the door, raced home and never returned! 

Many young women have complained of similar incidents in the past years. Others are said to have even reported the cases to the police, but no action was taken. If my sharp memory serves me well, one local radio station once had a discussion on the issue. 

It seems Silly ***** will never grow up! Several sexual molestation/rape allegations later, he’s still at it. Most boggling is that his cases always disappear into thin air. Some people dismiss or defend him, as is the norm here; ignoring dodgy characters (who often know people in “high places”) which gives them lee-way to continue with their shady ways. It’s a pity his education and talent have gone to waste. I suspect he’s bewitched. That geezer needs a ‘fire church’ pastor to lay hands on him and exorcise the evil spirits playing havoc within him. Out, devil sprit, Fire!

Unemployment is worriedly high in our country. Some people can hate you for having a job, that’s how bad the situation is. Unfortunately this has made way for rampant economic and sexual exploitation.

With regard to the latter, scoundrels take advantage of starry-eyed girls and promise them the moon and the stars provided they sleep with them. Many of these Gabs ma-cat have finished our little sisters with their endless auditions, interviews, model castings and “job offers”! They are shameless sex pests and paedophiles; wolves in sheep skin who prey on naïve youngsters. You wouldn’t suspect a smartly dressed, educated and well-spoken man of being dodgy, right? Well, some of them are psychos, conmen, crooks in suits, tsotsis in boardrooms, pimps and perverts, beneath the façade of normality. 

It seems the employed aren’t safe either. I have overheard some women decry male bosses who propose sexual relationships with them. I understand its called go ja stock. If the ladies don’t give in they are patronized, sabotaged or demoted.  It sounds silly but you would be surprised how stupid some “clever” men are, especially when they cease to use their brains and think with their crotches. With this salacious behavior, which permeates into workplaces, it’s no wonder poor work ethic and productivity is the norm here. On the other hand, banyana ba tricky! Participants of ‘serope mperekela’ (women who sleep their way to the top) are partly to blame because they create the impression that women are willing to drop their panties to get ahead.

On the flipside, its ladies’ prerogative to be vigilant and wary of fake job adverts. Apply common sense and trust your instincts.  At the end of the day, the buck stops with you. Don’t be gullible. Stop rushing to interviews where you are asked to wear bikinis. Le fa ebile gotwe heat wave, o a go bereka o sa tswala?! 

Some girls like ‘fame’. ‘Fame’ won’t pay your bills...not in Botswana. It’s best to go school, get a job or run a business, and pursue your passion part-time or moonlight. Even then, it’s important to establish that the people you are dealing with are credible and legitimate. 

In a country with a rape endemic and embarrassingly high HIV/AIDS rate, it’s despicable that we constantly turn a blind eye to sexual exploitation and sweep the matter under the carpet. What does this say about Batswana’s attitudes towards women and sexuality? Are we still stuck on the primitive notion that women are sex toys? We should castigate sex pests’ behaviour. The long arm of the law should nab them and bring them to book. I think these perverts should be made to eat grass...They really need Jesus!