HARARE The government has been accused of surreptitiously attempting to replace director of the Mutare-based Centre of Research and Development, Farai Maguwu,The Zimbabwean civil society appointed Maguwu, who suffered persecution at the hands of the Zimbabwe government after exposing human rights abuses in Marange diamond fields, as the KP local focal point for Zimbabwean civil society.
However, the government has imposed Goodson Nguni as the preferred civil society representative. Nguni is purpoted to represent the Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations (FNGO).
Maguwu was nominated by the umbrella National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations Zimbabwe. In a hastily arranged meeting of the so called pro-Zanu (PF) FNGOs which was snubbed by NANGO, Nguni was purportedly appointed the new KP focal point person. The meeting claimed Magwu was not fit to be the focal point person because he was facing criminal charges in the courts.
Maguwu’s lawyer Tinoziva Bere said it was a manifestation of parallel structures that government has set up to undermine civil society.
Post published in: Politics