Online Reporter
By Arron Nyamayaro
THE Educators Union of Zimbabwe has been hit by allegations of financial mismanagement.
Sources have told H-Meto that more than 20 members have not received their benefits despite the Union collecting more than US$48,000 each month through the Salary Service Bureau.
Some members have told H-Metro that frustration has been building over the failure to get the promised benefits and say this is just the tip of the iceberg.
There are also allegations that the leadership of the union has lost touch with the membership. “As civil servants, our enemies of progress are within us. The leaders we trusted have become our greatest obstacles.
“Concerns have been raised about the leadership’s tactics, including the removal of dissenting members from communication platforms and alleged manipulation of the SSB database,” said one of the affected members.
H-Metro contacted the union’s secretary-general, Tapedza Zhou, for a comment.
Zhou acknowledged concerns among some members but described the disgruntled members as “mischievous,” claiming their aim was to damage the Union’s reputation.
He said:“Yes, we have some members who have become mischievous.
“They want to tarnish the image of the Union. We are going to hold an election in August this year.
“Some of these members have been to police, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and making noise in some groups but that did not help them,” said Zhou.
Union boss Tafadzwa Munodawafa is currently facing a fraud case at Tredgold Magistrates Court, which has no relation to her work at the organisation.
The Educator’s Union, which boasts over 600 members, is set to hold an election to choose its leadership in August.
Tensions have been rising within the organisation and there have been concern, among some of the members, that there is little accountability and transparency within the current leadership.
Mathew Masinge