Troubled Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director Macdonald Lewanika has bowed down to pressure which was being exerted by the civil society movement’s board of directors and resigned.
Among other allegations Lewanika was accused of flouting tender procedures and abusing donor funding.
The former Crisis in Zimbabwe boss also forced out Dewa Mavhinga from chairing the troubled organization’s board late last year after an external auditor had unearthed corruption in the Coalition.
Below is the resignation letter which Lewanika wrote to the “board”.
Dear Colleagues
1.) This note serves to inform you that I submitted my Notice of
Resignation letter as Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on May
17 2015. I am thus now serving my notice and will shortly be taking my
leave from this station.
– The leadership is still developing an Exit and Replacement plan and
colleagues will be briefed appropriately when these details have been fully
fleshed out. In the meantime, I urge colleagues to continue conducting
themselves professionally and continue to execute their duties, as will I,
till my time of departure.
– I also urge colleagues to desist from turning the issue of my replacement
into a political campaign, either for themselves or their preferred
candidates. A transparent and official process will be laid out and those
interested or with strong feelings around who should replace me can then
take a que from that and act appropriately.
2.) I would also like to officially announce the departure from Staff of
Vivid Gwede, who submitted his Resignation letter to me last week on Friday
the 29th of May 2015. Vivid has now joined the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Association ( ZIMRIGHTS) as their Information Officer. For those who were
in Vhumba for the Programs Team Planning Session we did mention Vivid’s
departure and bed him farewell. In addition to Vivid, Our receptionist Eve
Mazunga also left the organisation.
– As above I urge colleagues to act professionally and continue to conduct
their duties.
– Given our financial situation and also the fact that I shall soon be
replaced, I will not be making or instituting any substantive replacements
for these two colleagues – I will leave this task for the new leadership at
Secretariat Level.
3.) I however have made interim arrangements for Zvikomborero Mache to
return to the organisation to fill in for Zvikomborero Tafirenyika, in my
office, while the later is on leave. Zviko Mache is available to assist
with other duties and has so far been also assisting with manning the
reception desk.
If there are other interim measures, these will be communicated and shared
with colleagues accordingly.
Sincerely
McDonald