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Prosper Dembedza Herald Correspondent

The trial of Zimbabwe national women’s football team coach, Shadreck Mlauzi on sexual abuse charges was yesterday postponed to December 12 after he hired a new lawyer who needs time to familiarise himself with the proceedings.

Mlauzi allegedly molested a female member of the technical team in Zimbabwe and South Africa on different occasions.

It is the State’s case that on September 26, Mlauzi and his team were camped at Pandhari Lodge in Glen Lorne, Harare, ahead of the Cosafa Women Championships that were held in South Africa recently. The complainant asked for the training programme, but Mlauzi allegedly told her to collect it from his room.

Later that day, she went to the room to collect the programme and Mlauzi allegedly told her that he would e-mail it to her.

He allegedly asked the complainant to kiss him on his lips. Mlauzi allegedly grabbed the complainant’s shoulders and pulled her towards him in an attempt to kiss her without her consent, but she refused. This was the basis of the assault charge.

On the second count, the State alleged that on October 4, Mlauzi and the complainant were in South Africa at Garden Court Hotel with the rest of the team members.

On handing the hotel room keys to the complainant, Mlauzi allegedly instructed her to report to his room and massage him.

The next day, while at a training session, the complainant told Mlauzi that they did not have resistance bands for training and he allegedly told her to collect money from his room.

She went to collect the money, but when he handed over US$20, Mlauzi allegedly grabbed the complainant improperly and she turned down his advances and went away.

On the next day, Mlauzi allegedly started harassing the complainant after a match and that prompted her to register her complaint with the Cosafa safeguarding officer, who later counselled her.

This gave rise to the charge of indecent assault.