Human rights boss accused of £26 000 fraud
The founding president of the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) group, Ephraim Tapa has been sacked by his organisation’s board following accusations that £26 000 was remitted to his personal account on various dates but never forwarded to Zimbabwe, the intended destination.
Tapa has been leading the organisation from his base in the United Kingdom where he is exiled but the ROHR-Zimbabwe chapter says it “renewed its leadership at its extra-ordinary board meeting on Thursday July 7, 2011 at the Chelmsford Manor Conference, Avondale in Harare.
The extra-ordinary board meeting was allegedly attended by five out of the total eight board members and decided to expel Tapa, Tichanzii Gandanga and Ray Muzenda from the board with immediate effect. The three were accused of engaging in “actions of gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds, criminal discharge of office and undermining of the ROHR constitutional provisions.”
The meeting saw the elevation of Grace Mupfurutsa as the Chairperson, founding member Stendrick Zvorwadza is the organisation’s new Vice Chairperson. The office of Treasurer General will be served by ROHR-Zimbabwe’s founding member Justin Shawgray whilst the office of Board Secretary will be occupied by Ronald Mureverwi.
The ROHR Zimbabwe Board of Trustees also distanced itself from the ‘Yes we can movement’ formed by Tapa citing that the abuse of ROHR Zimbabwe’s website to promote this venture is “mischievous and unacceptable.” The board is also demanding £8000 from Tapa which he said got for “educational expenses unconstitutionally without the approval of the BOT.”
On Monday Tapa came out fighting telling SW Radio Africa’s Behind the Headlines series that he was the ‘vision holder’ of the organisation and it was the first time he was hearing of the accusations that he abused funds. He claimed only 4 members of the board met and therefore did not constitute a quorum. He also said the meeting was not advertised to anyone, nor was its agenda stated.
Responding to the new executive Tapa claimed Zvorwadza has been away for two years, “Mupfurutsa has not been participating in ROHR activities since its inception” and Chikuvire was dismissed “for reasons to do with misconduct.” The new board has however warned Tapa it will “seek law enforcement” if he continues to hold onto the property of the organisation. Listen to Tapa on SW Radio Africa
