CiCZ has a membership of more than 80 civil society and non-governmental organisations focusing on human, social and political rights. Inside sources say USAID is conducting a forensic audit on behalf of the US government.
While no independent confirmation could be obtained at the time of going to press, sources said AusAID from Australia and donors from Norway had launched separate audits.
A major bone of contention, they said, was the handling of about $3.2 million disbursed for the Feya Feya initiative, a campaign to mobilise Zimbabweans to register to vote in 2013. Only about $300,000 was used while the rest was diverted by senior members to their personal use.
They claimed that some of the beneficiaries of the funding (names supplied) were working with senior Zanu (PF) officials and plotted to ensure the party remained in power to prolong the crisis in Zimbabwe and be ensured of income.
The coalition is currently embroiled in a leadership wrangle, with some members calling on MacDonald Lewanika, to go. But he insists he is clean.
Last week, a group lobbying for the ouster of Lewanika circulated emails that other senior members dismissed as fake. The emails purported that a fake board led by Samukeliso Khumalo had renewed Lewanika’s contract late last year and was planning to have it authorised by hired board members. Khumalo, who says she is the acting board chair, said the emails were being circulated by a few disgruntled members bent on tarnishing her.
“These are just two or three organisations out of more than 80 that are seeking attention for selfish gains. They want to discredit me and other bona fide members through fabricated claims,” said Khumalo. She dismissed the claim that several forensic audits were being carried out, insisting that they were merely end of year grant audits.
She acknowledged that there was a crisis at CiZC and hoped to fix the mess and leave the coalition.
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