Staff Reporter

Women’s Academy for Leadership and Politics Excellence (WALPE) Executive Director, Stabile Dewa, stands accused of using her proximity to former Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) chairperson, Rashid Mahiya, to loot funds from that organisation.

Until January this year, Mahiya was CiZC chairperson and he and Dewa connived to loot donated funds from that organisation before converting the funds to their personal use.

According to a source that preferred anonymity, Dewa and Mahiya who were lovers and also worked together at Heal Zimbabwe, managed to siphon funds from CiZC and used some of it to sponsor Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activities.

“Dewa with the help of Mahiya looted funds from CiZC. Mahiya used to authorise donated money to be deposited into WALPE’s account. The money would later be withdrawn by Dewa and she would share it with her lover Mahiya,” said the source.

The source added that Dewa was also accused of looting donor funds worth hundreds of American dollars through awarding of bogus consultancy contracts for work which was never done. She would later claim the money for her personal use.

According to the source, Dewa also used some of the funds she looted from CiZC to service the stand of CCC Harare councillor, Denford Ngadziore.

“Some of the money looted by Dewa from CiZC was used to service Ngadziore’s stand. Dewa and Ngadziore are related and she also financially supported his recent campaign. Other funds were also used to sponsor the failed campaign of Thokozile Muchuchuti in Masvingo Ward four,” said the source.

The same source said that Dewa had a habit of going around the European embassies in Harare backbiting other women’s organisation so that they don’t get funding for their projects.

WALPE was formed three years ago by Dewa and it works with women in politics. However, the organisation has been accused of interfering in the internal politics of the country and its director was exposed as an opposition foot soldier.