Dongozi and Takaona Accused of Fleecing ZUJ Funds

Former ZUJ president Mathew Takaona and his secretary general Foster Dongozi are refusing to pay a journalist for his services in a donor-funded program although the project money was availed to the union a long time ago, Save ZUJ Campaign can exclusively reveal.

Journalist Maxwell Sibanda has had more than three months demanding payment for his consultancy work on a project wholly funded by IMS but Takaona and Dongozi have refused to honour the agreement. Meanwhile, Sibanda has since confiscated a laptop from the union's headqaurters at Number 57 Central Avenue in protest.

Information at hand show that the funds were embezzled by Dongozi and Takaona who also stand accused by some of the union's employees of abusing fuel coupons and other union funds.

The continuos abuse of resources recently caused Dongozi and Takaona to be summoned by some named donors of the union to explain. The donors have since told them that they are not prepared to inject any resources into the union until a new executive was put in place, prompting Takaona to step down from the presidential race.

Save ZUJ Campaign is saddened by this development and would want to urge the executive-in-waiting to probe Takaona and Dongozi for abuse of office and corruption.

Vote Frank Chikowore for Secretary General

Congress Race Hots Up: The ZUJ We Want

Comrades and friends, 

As we approach the ZUJ congress, as your secretary general-in-waiting, I promise to ensure that all union members are given access to equal opportunities. I also want to ensure that the union is run in a membership driven process.

The union is bigger than an individual and I would want to reiterate that we shall demand a one-man-one vote at the congress.

I also want to ensure that all those who illegally possess properties of the union are held to account.

 I would like to ensure that ZUJ rejoins the family of progressive media organizations other than isolating itself.

I want to prioritize the issue of legal representation of journalists instead of giving the burden to media organizations that do not deal directly with journalists.

I want to ensure that training programs are inclusive and ensure that the secretariat is run in a professional manner.

I want to engage employers so that royalties are paid to photojournalists for repeated use of their images. In this vein, I also want to engage employers so that that full-time and freelance reporters are paid in line with market standards.

I also want to ensure that journalists have unlimited access to the union's resource center at the headquarters. I would want to set up resource centers in all the country's provinces so that journalists can do their work with little or no problems at all.

As the world is changing very fast, your secretary general will ensure that ZUJ is twinned with other unions in developed countries. Under your secretary general's leadership, the rebranded ZUJ will seek to create partnerships that other media organizations, locally and internationally, that seek to promote media freedom and advance the interests of journalists. 

Vote Frank Chikowore for Secretary General

ZUJ Congress 2009 Update

The ZUJ congress has been set for December 4 2009. This day presents us with the opportunity to reclaim our union as professional journalists.

The union that we want should embrace transparency and accountability. ZUJ must be a membership-driven organization that treats its members without favour.  The Union must also exercise its duties in terms of its founding principles and objectives. All programs of the union, including training, must not be discriminatory to members. 

As your secretary general and custodian of the Union, I will ensure that all the business of the Union is done in a transparent manner giving members the power to drive the organization.

As your secretary general, I will work with all members to ensure that we rebrand ZUJ together into a formidable organization that respects its constitution and the membership. As your secretary general, I will push for limited terms of the executive and that all paid-up members are allowed to participate in congress business 

I would also like to take this opportunity to inform all ZUJ members and partners that I will be launching my manifesto next week. Continue watching this space for more details and information 

Vote Frank Chikowore for Secretary General