Chiyangwa takes over AAG as Supa steps down

The Harare Businessman, AAG founder Mr Phillip Chiyangwa on Monday took over control of the pressure group, saying he will steer it for the next three months.

Chiyangwa said his coming in was aimed at restoring sanity before he appointed another executive that would advance the pressure group's founding principles.

The AAG ship was rocked last week following a vote of no confidence passed by six provincial executives on the national executive led by Mr Supa Mandiwanzira.

Mr Chiyangwa will steer the organisation together with founding secretary general, Mr Tendai Savanhu, who would retain the same post.

Addressing journalists in the capital yesterday, Mr Chiyangwa said a new executive will be appointed in January next year and it was expected to advance the black empowerment drive, a basis upon which the organisation was formed.

"We will put up an office and buy properties to ensure that it has the necessary gadgets and not to use someone else's offices as AAG offices," said Mr Chiyangwa.
"There is nobody else except the two of us. There is no selfish intention, yadzoka kunavanababa vayo navanamai vayo."
Mr Chiyangwa said he had spoken to outgoing president, Mr Mandiwanzira, who confirmed that he had stepped down, creating a vacuum warranting his coming in.

"Supa did a good job, we don't want someone to stay in office in perpetuity," said Mr Chiyangwa. "Somebody must come and serve the people and pass on the baton."
Speaking at the same occasion, Mr Savanhu said as founding members, they accepted the vote of no confidence passed on the national executive and Mr Chiyangwa as the appointing authority had to step in to stabilise the institution.

He said there had been complaints that the national leadership was not reporting to lower tiers of its structures as they were spending most of their time in foreign lands.
"In future, whenever we appoint members they must be people who understand the founding principles of the AAG, fighting for the marginalised and not for personal benefit," said Mr Savanhu.
"The AAG must be the mouthpiece of the marginalised. There are several allegations being raised and we want them investigated."

Former AAG vice president and businessman, Mr Temba Mliswa, said it was unfortunate that Mr Mandiwanzira had resigned at a time when concern had been raised on corporate governance. He was addressing a separate Press conference in the city.

Mr Mliswa said there were a lot of allegations raised by members within the organisation, which Mr Mandiwanzira needed to respond to. Some of the allegations included failure to account for cash donated by several companies such as the US$30 000 from Mbada Diamonds and US$2 000 from Telecel Zimbabwe.
Mr Mliswa said he believed that some of the money was used on a recent United States trip by Mr Mandiwanzira that was not approved by the national executive.

He said there was need for an independent team to investigate some of the allegations.
Mr Mliswa said the AAG was being used as a springboard by individuals to get higher offices elsewhere, while they neglected the membership.
"People come in and get what they want and go," he said. "I accept that we have failed our membership. We had become greedy and forgot the membership."

Mr Mliswa said it was proper for Mr Chiyangwa and Mr Savanhu to take over the leadership because they were the founding members.
The provincial executive members questioned the logic by the national executive members of AAG of failing to open a bank account, yet lower tiers such provincial offices had some.
Mr Mandiwanzira's executive was accused of failing to communicate with members.