I think this is important to share...so that we further understand the Zim crisis better.
You may reach the story through this link below: http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1893&cat=12 *Crisis NGOs to go bust* CAJ News. JOHANNESBURG. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS based in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the world at large, which were cashing in on the Zimbabwean crisis are now faced with collapse following MDC-T's decision to join the inclusive Government this week, a snap survey has revealed. Several NGOs in Johannesburg and Pretoria said civil society organisations, including churches, refugee organisations and human rights groups, mainly those based in South Africa were upset by MDC-T's position to join the inclusive Government as they feared that funding would dry up. Tambanavo Chamanyawi, a human rights activist and political analyst based in Johannesburg, claimed that dozens of NGOs based in that city, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, which were making a killing out of the Zimbabwean crisis, would soon go bust as funders were likely to channel money to other countries. "Hundreds of Zimbabweans squatting in churches in Johannesburg became instant statistics for use and abuse during the launch of the Save Zimbabwe campaign by the so-called elders and human rights groups. "One cannot deny that some of these activists genuinely toil for the people. However, the opulence and gullibility of some of them is not difficult to detect. "Some have become so affluent over the years beyond the imagination of the struggling Zimbabweans they parade. "All is bound to come to a sudden end with the coming to life of the inclusive Government in Zimbabwe. The 'stock' is going to disappear and business will take a nosedive," said Chamanyawi. "Human rights project proposals will cease to be keys to any till and thousands of Zimbabwe's best brains will find themselves passengers of a stationary gravy train," he added. Because most financial resources were being channelled towards opposition activities, the situation was likely to change when the new Government takes shape. "Donors would be left with no alternative except to seal their wallets. This is exactly the reason why dominant, eloquent and flamboyant characters in the NGO sector are crying foul over Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to be part of a solution to the problems of Zimbabwe. "Some are already mouthing out serious assertions of deception on Tsvangirai's part. They claim the inclusive Government is against the wishes of the electorate and agitate for Tsvangirai's absolute take over," said Chamanyawi. Zimbabwe Political Victims Association (Zipova) welfare officer for South Africa Joshua Mambo-Rusere openly opposed the move by Mr Tsvangirai to join the inclusive Government saying his organisation was assessing the possible consequences. "I am not happy with what the MDC leadership did. Joining the inclusive Government is a disaster for many of us here in exile. "Well, it could be good for our brothers, sisters and parents back home who are suffering from diseases, food shortages and company closures, but this deal is not favourable to genuine political victims. The deal does not mention our fate," said Mambo-Rusere. The secretary-general for Zipova, Oliver Kubikwa, said the deal needed some careful scrutiny arguing that both parties needed total commitment to the deal for it to work. "I am not with the deal, but I do believe that when both parties are fully committed, then Zimbabwe will bounce back to become the breadbasket of southern Africa," said Kubikwa. Mafias Kayela of a local church that has been giving cash to Zimbabweans desperately looking for shelter and food in Johannesburg and Pretoria said he was upset by Mr Tsvangirai's move to join the inclusive Government. "Our NGO has already lost so many field officers from the time Mr Tsvangirai made statements towards joining the new GNU (government of national unity) under President Mugabe. I am not so sure whether by next year our NGO will be still functional or totally collapsed because the sponsors are contemplating pulling out. "We used to get lots of cash injection from America, Australia and the United Kingdom to provide food, clothes and medication to the Zimbabwe refugees and asylum seekers," said one official from a leading NGO based in Johannesburg. — CAJ News. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
