Zanu PF takes over Red Cross society in Zimbabwe

By Lance Guma
31 August 2006

The Zanu PF regime has allegedly taken over the running of the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society in a move seen as an attempt to control food distribution in the country. According to New Zimbabwe.Com the clandestine takeover will see Mugabe’s regime benefit from money and aid coming from donors. The government is said to have been recommending the employment of government workers and ruling party supporters into the society’s influential positions.

Senior officials in the Red Cross told the website that the motive is ‘to divert money and food aid, most of it targeted towards child-headed families, mainly orphaned by HIV and Aids, and vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled, into the hands of Zanu PF.’ Countries like Denmark, United Kingdom and the European Union itself are all reported as making donations to Zimbabwe’s Red Cross society.
According to New Zimbabwe.Com, the Red Cross chief executive, Emma Kundishora, was elevated 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. Senior Zanu PF officials are accused of engineering the removal of former chairman, Dr Jimmy Gazi who was replaced by Mashonaland Central Zanu PF official, Edmore Shamhu. The link with Zanu PF is further evidenced by the late Minister Dr Swithern Mombeshora leading the society. Zanu PF senator for Masvingo, Dzikamai Mavhaire, is also a former board member.
New Zimbabwe.Com says ‘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. Another government official, Netsai Chizema, has been appointed as the human resources manager and her mandate is to "weed out" individuals thought to be intent on disrupting government intentions.’
Golden Mukwecheni a programme officer in Manicaland was allegedly fired by the new human resources manager because he is brother to former opposition Movement for Democratic Change Member of Parliament for Nyanga, Sidney Mukwecheni. It’s thought more dismissals and transfers were in the pipeline to frustrate workers and force them into resigning. Mduduzi Mathuthu, the New Zimbabwe.Com editor, told Newsreel that politicians had no business in NGO’s. He described the takeover of the society as a sad situation given how Zanu PF uses food for election campaigns.