A storm of outrage has erupted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, with staff members expressing shock and disgust after a trainee clinical psychologist, Lesley Machokoto, was allowed to return to work despite facing serious accusations of sexual abuse against mentally-ill patients, The Newsday has reported.
Machokoto, who was dismissed earlier this year for similar charges, was reinstated after successfully appealing his dismissal in January. This decision has left many at the hospital, particularly those who have been directly affected by Machokoto’s alleged actions, feeling deeply betrayed and concerned for the safety of patients.
The allegations against Machokoto are deeply disturbing. He is accused of luring patients to an office after hours, where he allegedly had sexual intercourse with them. Scores of female students who were under his supervision at the hospital’s Psychiatric Unit during their attachment periods have also come forward with allegations of sexual harassment.
The documents, which include witness statements and internal memos, reveal a disturbing pattern of misconduct and unethical behaviour by Machokoto. These allegations include inappropriate comments and gestures, coercive sexual behaviour, and the abuse of his position to make unwanted sexual advances.
The students alleged that Machokoto preyed on their vulnerability, leaving them feeling unsafe and exploited.
In addition to the allegations of sexual harassment, Machokoto is also facing accusations of exploiting patients for financial gain. According to the documents and witness statements, Machokoto would demand extra payments from patients for services offered by the hospital, including tests and treatments. Patients who could not pay the extra fees were allegedly denied medical attention or received substandard care.
The gravity of the allegations against Machokoto is undeniable. The hospital has a responsibility to protect its patients, especially those who are most vulnerable.
The letter dated December 14, 2023, from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to the Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe, outlines the serious nature of the allegations against Machokoto.
“This letter serves to inform your good office that the Department of Psychology at Parirenyatwa Psychiatric Unit has noted with concern allegations of misconduct behaviour levelled against Mr Leslie Machokoto, currently registered intern clinical psychologist working at Parirenyatwa Psychiatric Unit. Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals is currently investigating the matter as required procedurally. The allegation was made public by attachés and interns at the same institution, as well as some patients.”
The letter goes on to detail the accusations against Machokoto, including having sexual intercourse with patients, impersonating a medical doctor, and breaking confidentiality rules.
When contacted for comment, Machokoto said: “It is new to me. I can’t comment on that because I am an employee at the hospital. Call me after an hour.”
The witness statements paint a chilling picture of Machokoto’s alleged behaviour. One victim, whose name has been withheld, stated that Machokoto made sexual comments to subordinates.
“The other thing he could just say ‘you look like a prostitute in front of patients’ and I then confronted him asking him if he has seen me doing that and he then brushed it off. He was not even remorseful about what he had said,” the witness’s statement read.
“This other day as I was doing my administrative duty, he then called an MSU [Midlands State University] student (name withheld) by the name, he then said ‘some of your fellows listen to me’ and he then showed us nude pictures of two of our colleagues.”
Another witness revealed that Machokoto would force subordinates to go for HIV tests so that he may know their statuses.
“Mr Machokoto would force attaches to go with him and test for HIV so that he knows our statuses. I refused to go with him and he told other attaches that I am a prostitute, that is why I do not want to get tested with him. He asked if we were virgins or not, which made me feel very uncomfortable,” the statement read.
Another victim wrote: “Mr Machokoto would touch our backs asking the type of bra you are wearing. He did that to me and would pull the bra strips and if you make a sound of being in pain, he would say ‘that is what you should do when having sex’.
“If you tell him that you don’t like it, he would say he is the supervisor and there is nothing you can do. ‘Even reporting to Dr Farzana would be pointless because I am the boss’.
“Mr Machokoto said if you come late for work, even by a minute, you buy drink, coffee and milk. Even if you had transport challenges, he would say ‘I don’t care, you should have left your house at 4am so that you won’t be late again’.”
The allegations against Machokoto are serious and require a thorough investigation. The hospital’s decision to reinstate him, despite the accusations, has raised serious concerns about the safety of patients and the well-being of staff.
The hospital’s industrial relations officer, Regina Chinembiri, refused to comment on the matter, referring questions to the hospital spokesperson, Terrence Mautsi.
Mautsi confirmed the issue, adding that despite the reinstatement, Machokoto has since left Parirenyatwa for Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
“Indeed, I can confirm the said member has been reinstated due to the appeal he lodged with the Health Services Commission. The Health Services Regulations of 2006 PART V111 51. 3 states that an appeal against a determination or a penalty, made in terms of the section, shall have the effect of suspending the determination or penalty sought to be reviewed and thus Lesley Machokoto was reinstated,” Mautsi said.
“The hospital remains committed to ensure patient safety and his dismissal was a loud statement by the hospital that it does not tolerate this untoward behaviour and the hospital has since upped its game in terms of monitoring the safety of patients which is a key priority.
“In this instance and given the sensitivity of the matter, Lesley was not reinstated to Parirenyatwa Annex, but he is stationed at Sally Mugabe, a measure taken to ensure a good working environment pending the outcome of the appeal. My office is making concerted effort to calm the staff and ensure a calm working environment.
“He (Machokoto) had 13 victims who testified against him. He engaged two different lawyers who both dropped him in the midst of his trial owing to the gravity of his matter.”
