Donors cut aid to Zimbabwe Red Cross over graft

The looting of the Red Cross – which followed an apparent takeover of the organisation by Zanu PF officials – alarmed the organisation's international donors who demanded an audit and an investigation into widespread corruption.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has also taken an interest in the fleecing of the Red Cross following reports of illegal foreign currency dealing by senior officials.

RBZ investigators have paid the organisation several visits in recent weeks, but it is the withdrawal of international financial support that could cripple the organisation and leave several charities supported by the organisation on the lurch.
New Zimbabwe.com can reveal that the Department for International Development (DFID), a Danish organisation, and the European Union who were the organisation's largest donors, have stopped their funding.

The DFID and the EU have demanded a thorough audit and a probe into the misuse of Red Cross facilities by Zanu PF officials, led by the Zimbabwe Red Cross president Edmore Shamu, who is a high-ranking Zanu PF official in Mashonaland Central province.

The DFID pays out US$3 million to the Zimbabwe Red Cross annually, but the organisation pulled its purse strings – threatening the lives of some 100 000 orphans supported by the Red Cross around the country.

Donors demand audit

The Red Cross also has a European Union-funded support network in eight of the country's provinces for HIV/Aids sufferers, mainly focused on home-based care and food security.

Shamu and his management team have already survived an attempt to oust them by other middle-ranking Red Cross officials. Red Cross volunteers fear Shamu's continued presence could finally throttle the organisation.

“Donors have been demanding an audit since last year, but most board members who clearly have something to hide, shot down those calls. Suffering people supported by the Red Cross are just about to pay the price,” said one worker, who asked not to be named.

Some of the allegations against Shamu and his board included misuse of foreign currency, the stripping of Red Cross resources, mainly vehicles, and diversion of money.

In December last year, some volunteers were given food hampers as payment, sparking a volley of protests.

New Zimbabwe.com led the way in revealing how Zanu PF officials had quietly positioned themselves on the Red Cross feeding trough. The takeover of the organisation was also seen as a strategic move as the ruling party has a propensity for using aid as a campaign weapon.

We revealed how donated vehicles had been diverted to aid Zanu PF political campaigns in Mashonaland Central province by Shamu.

Covert takeover

Two vehicles, a Nissan Hardbody registration number 774-502 Z and a Toyota truck, registration number 565-463 H, were withdrawn from regular Red Cross activities and assigned to Zanu PF officials.

Three Suzuki motorbikes, also donated to Red Cross, were also used in Zanu PF campaigns during council elections in Shamu's home province of Mashonaland Central last year. The registration numbers for the motorbikes are 608-683, 608-683 and 533-590.

The Red Cross, whose patron is President Robert Mugabe, found itself the subject of a covert take-over by Zanu PF. The ZRCS's secretary general, Emma Kundishora, was appointed a few years ago after having been "recommended" by the government through the Ministry of Health, to keep an eye on operations at the Red Cross, which also plays a critical role in food distribution.

Senior Zanu PF officials were reportedly behind the removal of former president, Dr Jimmy Gazi and his replacement by Mashonaland Central Zanu PF official, Edmore Shamhu.

The late Dr Swithun Mombeshora, who was a top Zanu PF official and government minister, was at one time president of the ZRCS. Zanu PF senator for Masvingo, Dzikamai Mavhaire, is a former board member.

Sam Mavurutsa, a soldier, was recommended from the Air Force of Zimbabwe to head the organisation's training centre in Westwood, Harare, which co-ordinates the training of volunteers and food distribution. Shamhu's alleged diversion of the organisation's assets sparked a looting frenzy among senior management workers.

“After it became clear that the president was looting assets at the organisation, officials threw caution to the wind and grabbed vehicles of the organisation,” a board member revealed.
Kundishora helped herself to a Toyoya truck.

Another senior staffer, identified as KK Manyongo also seized a Toyota truck. The organisation's treasurer, H Chikumbirike also has grabbed a Toyota Hilux. B Ncube, a finance officer with the Red Cross, helped himself to two Yamaha bikes with another official named as Ndoro grabbing a Nissan Twin Cab.

Thieves

New Zimbabwe.com has also learnt that Shamhu and Kundishora also bought themselves expensive top of the range cell phones using Red Cross funds.

In January last year, the two officials awarded themselves shopping vouchers worth Zim$50 million each. The money was diverted from a budget that was supposed to reward volunteers for serving the organisation without remuneration in 2005.
Shamhu, a schoolteacher in Mashonaland Central, has flooded the organisation with unqualified fellow teachers and Zanu PF supporters from Mashonaland Central, among them Lucky Goteka, Calvine Matsinde, a Raradza and one S. Chinhaire.

Kundishora has employed her niece, Nyasha Kuwamba, as a consultant who is being paid double for consultancy, and as an employee.

Other cronies of the secretary general include a Netsai Chizema, a former colleague with the Ministry of Health, who has been made the Red Cross' human resources manager.

Shamhu and the secretary general have been accused by workers of fleecing the Red Cross through unnecessary foreign trips and awarding themselves thousands of US dollars.

On Monday, Shamu admitted RBZ officials had twice called at the Zimbabwe Red Cross offices in Harare this month.

"We know there are some people who want us out and they have been making all sorts of allegations,” Shamu charged. “They will not win because there is no grain of truth in all what they are saying.”

Article courtesy of http://newzimbabwe.com/