Chaos is reigning supreme at the National Aids Council
(Nac) following multiple, but anonymous allegations of tender scandals, abuse
of public funds on non-core activities and sexual harassment.
The allegations have sucked in both members of the board
and senior executives. The Herald is reliably informed that the Gender
Commission has since taken up cases involving sexual harassment at the
workplace, while the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission looked at the tender
scandals.
The Nac board is said to have instituted a special audit
that intended to specifically look at issues of fuel, travel and subsistence
allowances and procurement. The auditors carried out a routine audit, which did
not delve into the specifics required by the board.
Further information gathered by our Harare Bureau indicates
that the board chairman, Dr Evaristo Marowa, who is being accused of offering
consultancy services through CompreHealth – a company that he is affiliated to,
has since indicated intention to resign citing these and other allegations
levelled against him.
Nac executive director Dr Tapuwa Magure is said to have
decided to conclude his official duties at the expiration of his contract next
month, despite the fact that the board had extended his contract by a further
year to give room for a smooth hand-over, take-over.
Dr Magure has served more than two terms at the helm of Nac
and the new regulations governing term of office for executives in State
enterprises has been set at not more than two terms.
Dr Magure is also facing allegations of “inappropriate”
relationships with a number of his female subordinates.
Further information gathered by our Harare Bureau insinuate
that Dr Magure has since declared some of the relationships with his
subordinates as legal and in line with customary marriage – further raising
eyebrows in relation to good corporate governance practices.
Other senior officials cited in the anonymous letters
include operations director Mr Raymond Yekeye and national youth coordinator
Mrs Beauty Nyamwanza, who are facing allegations of abuse of office.
One of the anonymous letters purported to have been written
by disgruntled Nac staff, allege that the officials have been protected over
the years, hence no action was taken against them despite both the board and
the Ministry of Health and Child Care being aware of the issues. “Gone are the
days where staff members and community will continue to protect you and keep
you,” reads part of the letter.
In an interview with, Dr Marowa denied allegations that he
had thrown in the towel, saying even if he was to resign, he would only do so
after all the said allegations had been cleared.
Dr Marowa denied ever receiving any consultancy fees from
Nac during his tenure as board chair, serve for sitting allowances, which he
described as “meagre”.
He further said from the date he was appointed to chair the
board, his main duty, together with other board members, was to ensure that
transparency, accountability and good corporate governance practices were
adhered to by the Secretariat. Dr Marowa said audits were done, but nothing out
of the ordinary was ever picked.
“The board is there to ensure that resources are allocated
and used efficiently and this has been happening ever since I became the board
chairman”, he said. “Yes, there might have been certain challenges here and
there, but not to the extent at which they are being portrayed.” Herald
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