IT was a familiar tale when purported social movement #Tajamuka spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi ‘announced’ that he had stepped down from the anti-Zimbabwe outfit over alleged abuse of funds.
There was nothing surprising or unusual, especially for this publication, that donors had for the umpteenth time fallen for the same trick that everyone in the regime change agenda project have used to milk donors.
Time and again we have reported that donors are a gullible lot being taken for a nasty ride by those with organisations claiming to be working towards removing ZANU PF from power.
We have been consistent in our warnings to donors that those involved in the regime change agenda are in it for the money.
We have provided evidence even of how the money is being used to fund luxurious lifestyles of these so-called social activists.
With the Mkwananzi saga still fresh, we will not hesitate to tell donors once again that ‘ you are hoist by own petard’
It is laughable that among a slew of charges that Mkwananzi is facing from his angry #Tajamuka is that he is ‘working’ with ZANU PF, ostensibly ‘selling’ information.
One thing for certain is that ZANU PF will not bother or waste time with Mkwananzi’s attempt to rope them in his problems.
The ruling Party is too busy with nation building projects.
But we will unravel the saga behind his abrupt resignation.
In a statement, #Tajamuka tried, with little success, to make itself an organisation founded on principles:
“We want to inform stockholders of the campaign and all progressive activists that Promise Mkwananzi voluntarily decided to temporarily recuse himself from the task as #Tajamuka/Sesjikile campaign spokesperson to allow allegations levelled against him to be investigated,” the statement read.
“However, he will continue to participate in the campaign’s activities. We welcome this noble decision that detaches the young peoples’ campaign from potential jeopardy.
“We applaud Mkwananzi for leading by example, especially so in a nation where top officials in Government continue sleeping on the throne after publicly acknowledging that US$15 billion was missing and some cleansing their loot by calling themselves Robin Hood.”
The furious #Tajamuka funders have also been claiming they purchased a Subaru vehicle for the organisation’s destructive activities which culminated in yet another violent demonstration in Harare last week, but Mkwananzi allegedly personalised the car.
A branded ZANU PF vehicle was severely damaged by the marauding #Tajamuka activists during the demonstration last week which saw some shops broken into and looted by the belligerent youths.
The naïve donors are also said to have already paid for Mkwananzi’s wife to enrol at Argosy University in the US.
“For some time, we provided online support, advice and financial assistance to Tajamuka,” one of the funders, who claimed to have been excited by #ThisFlag and Tajamuka’s visibility in Zimbabwe, told a local daily this week.
“We said #ThisFlag was the soul of Zimbabwe and Tajamuka was the action that resulted from the suffering of the soul. To support action on the ground there were several activities. To finance activities and #Tajamuka members we gave money to Promise who in turn was supposed to distribute to people on the ground. We thought the money was getting to the people, but it was not so. That money was diverted for other purposes and we have realised thousands of dollars we sent went into his pocket.”
This is not the first time donors have found themselves in this embarrassing situation.
In 2014, they had to battle to contain an inferno that had been ignited by damaging allegations that the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) Board had refused to renew MacDonald Lewanika’s contract over allegations of gross misuse of funds.
Then Board chairperson, Dewa Mavhinga who had resigned from the 82-member NGOs coalition issued a lengthy letter that highlighted the troubles in the organisation.
Mavhinga told a local paper that issues to do with looting of funds were behind the fights that erupted then.
This is what he said in part:
“There is an external audit report for 2013 by Baker Tilly Gwatidzo which included ZIMRA (the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) tax evasion for 11 out of 12 months in 2013 resulting in the organisation being fined over US$22 000 in penalties. For an NGO (non-governmental organisation) relying solely on donor funds, and working to uphold the highest standards of accountability and good governance, failure to remit Government taxes like PAYE (Pay As You Earn) that is deducted from employee salaries is totally unacceptable. Which donor condones that and funds the payment of penalties to the amount of US$22, 000? How does one account for failure to remit money to NSSA (the National Social Security Authority), to medical aid and to Old Mutual Pension schemes the entire year? I challenge anyone who is professional and objective, and who might believe in the personal vendetta conspiracy theory to try and be objective and impartially consider the facts at hand. If your employee in charge of the organisation is responsible for deducting PAYE from salaries of all employees but fails to remit tax to ZIMRA in one year and is fined US$22 000, would you renew the contract of that employee when it expires? Crisis Coalition donors should not be gullible enough to believe cheap propaganda about bad blood between me and Lewanika, they should ask the tough questions including about where the money to pay huge ZIMRA penalties came from and where the PAYE money deducted from employees went as it did not go to ZIMRA.”
With chickens now coming home to roost, it is high time these malcontents are exposed for the fraudsters they are.
Let those with ears listen.