Staff Reporter
The embattled Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is reportedly planning to change its name after realising that there is no longer crisis in Zimbabwe making their existence redundant.
According to a close contact within the coalition, the USAID, which used to fund their activities, has since withdrawn funding leaving them with the Norwegian People’s Aid as their only benefactor.
However, the contact said Norwegian People’s Aid was also threatening to withdraw their funding arguing that CiZC’s mandate is no longer relevant in the country.
“Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is in the process of changing its modus operandi and dropping its name which it has used since 2001. The major reason for the name change is that the word “crisis” no longer attracts funding as their erstwhile funders argue that there is no longer crisis in Zimbabwe.
“Donors have since realised that the issue of the so-called criris in Zimbabwe no longer exist, hence the need to rebrand the organisation, focusing on other issues which have direct bearing on the lives of Zimbabweans, and which easily attracts donor funding,” said the contact.
Political reporter, Mr Edward Chitsuro argued that Zimbabwe was never in any crisis, which warranted the existence of organisations like CiZC, which he said were just created to loot donor funds.
“Politically, Zimbabwe is in a stable state and in terms of food security, the country has enough to feed its people following the bumper harvest experienced this 2020/2021 farming season. Economically, the Government is trying by all means to arrest inflation and maintaining stability of prices of goods. In fact the crisis which these organisations report to their masters on daily basis never existed in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Chitsuro said that even the international community had acknowledged that Zimbabwe, through the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is on its way to recovery and development.
“The engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruits as evidenced by the good relations that Zimbabwe is enjoying with other nations, both regional and abroad,” he said.
A few months ago, CiZC experienced serious power struggles which threatened the continued survival of the 20-year old organisation.
The contact revealed to this publication that the organization’s National Director Blessing Vava and Chairperson Rashid Mahiya are in the process of consolidating power and are side-lining members who are questioning the manner they are running the organisation.
Mahiya is reportedly seeking to consolidate power and resources by creating a cabal of a few members who would benefit from the Organization’s activities, while shutting out the rest of the members who are questioning their leadership.
According to the contact, Mahiya has a tendency of splashing money to some individuals in the organisation to cause chaos and to influence decisions in the organisation. The plan is to re-elect Mahiya as the Chairperson for a third term at the Annual General Meeting to be held in December this year.
The contact revealed that, a faction of CiZC being led by leader of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Obert Masaraure who is also eying the CiZC chairmanship is threatening to pass a vote of no confidence in Vava and Mahiya.
Contact said Masaraure told CiZC members that Vava and Mahiya had plundered the organization’s resources and they should be relieved of their duties.
