DONORS have threatened to stop funding the Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum (Zinef) over alleged abuse of the organisation’s money by board chairman Brian Mangwende.
By STAFF REPORTER
The donors, who have since frozen the Zinef bank account, have ordered Mangwende to reimburse within two weeks the unathorised $2 200 loan he allocated himself.
Zinef is a body representing all editors in Zimbabwe to safeguard the interests of editors at a time when their welfare was under threat during the political crisis that gripped Zimbabwe after the turn of the millennium.
Mangwende is now under pressure from his colleagues on the board to resign from the post.
A letter from one of Zinef’s funders ordered Mangwende to reimburse the money within two weeks failing which Zinef would receive no further funding.
“It has come to our attention that an advance payment of $2 200 was approved by Zinef account holder MMPZ [Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe] to Zinef chairman Brian Mangwende.
“We wish to inform the board members of Zinef that it is against rules to make advance payment to board members of any organisation under any circumstances using our funds,” the letter read in part.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“The organisation, therefore, cautions that this should not happen again and request that funds advanced as a personal loan to Zinef board chairman Brian Mangwende be returned within two weeks and no later than 18 February 2015.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mangwende initially promised to call back, but had not done so at the time of going to print last night.
