UNFAZED
Whispers of a 'cult-like' working environment, alleged dismissals linked to pregnancy outside marriage, and claims of interference in employees’ love lives have now pulled one of Botswana’s best-known motivational figures into the spotlight. Ndiko Muzila, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Bell Academy and a well-known virgin advocate, has strongly denied accusations from some former and current employees who claim workers are discouraged from engaging in relationships outside marriage or dating colleagues while employed at her institution.
The allegations surfaced after several individuals approached The Midweek Sun, claiming that workers who fall pregnant outside wedlock are often targeted and eventually dismissed under the cover of administrative misconduct.
According to the complainants, most of whom preferred anonymity, some workers fear openly pursuing romantic relationships while employed at the academy because they believe management quietly disapproves of relationships considered 'un-Christian.'
Others alleged that employees who become pregnant outside marriage later face disciplinary action for unrelated workplace matters and eventually lose their jobs.
The employees described the atmosphere as emotionally draining, with some alleging that workers constantly feel watched and judged over their private lives.
One of the complainants, Oratile Faith Medupe, whose dismissal case is expected to head to court soon, said she was initially employed for administrative duties at the school's administration centre before later being assigned teaching responsibilities. She said she was eventually dismissed for not having a teaching licence. Medupe said she reported the matter to the Labour Department where she claims the dispute was resolved, with Muzila allegedly ordered to pay her 12 months salary together with severance pay. However, she further alleges that the school later refused to pay the salary component and only agreed to settle the severance package. She said she is now awaiting a court date.
Speaking to The Midweek Sun, Muzila dismissed the allegations as false and malicious, insisting that dismissals at Dawn Bell Academy are strictly linked to workplace misconduct and administrative failures.
“Well, they always make me the bad one,” she said during a live response to questions from this publication. Muzila said her institution has never had rules prohibiting employees from dating each other or engaging in relationships outside marriage.
“My employees even date each other and I do not entertain that because it is their personal business,” she said.
She argued that some former employees later twist disciplinary matters into claims of religious or moral discrimination after losing their jobs.
“When they mess up in administration issues, that’s when some later lie that they were fired for different reasons,” she said.
The entrepreneur and pastor said Dawn Bell Academy has dismissed employees over issues such as repeatedly reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, mishandling children, bullying students, and misuse of
sponsorship funds.
According to Muzila, some workers were financially assisted by the school to acquire professional licences but allegedly diverted the money toward personal use.
“You sponsor someone to get a teaching licence, then later realise the licence was never acquired because the money was used elsewhere,” she said.
She further claimed that some employees had arrived at work heavily intoxicated while expected to care for students.
“There were those who reported for duty drunk. Others bullied students. Those are things I cannot entertain,” she said.
Muzila also denied claims that pregnant unmarried women are dismissed from her institution, revealing that Dawn Bell Academy employs single mothers who receive maternity leave like any other employee.
“We even hire single parents. I have new mothers working in Jwaneng and Letlhakane,” she said.
She added that some employees openly live lifestyles that differ from Christian values but still remain employed because their personal choices are not part of workplace policy.
“There are people in multiple relationships who are still working for me,” she said.
The renowned author and motivational speaker also pushed back against accusations that she forces employees to attend her church or worship activities.
According to Muzila, some disgruntled former workers brand the school a “cult” after being dismissed.
“They even say I force them to worship at my church, which is not true,” she said.
She said that while some employees present themselves as committed Christians during recruitment, their private lifestyles later differ from the image they initially portrayed. Still, she maintained that such matters do not lead to dismissal. “People lie that they are Christians, then later reveal they were pretending, but they are never fired for that,” she said.
Muzila warned that she may soon pursue legal action against individuals she accuses of spreading false information about her and her institutions on social media platforms.
She further claimed that some individuals who publicly attacked her later returned to apologise.