Kumbirayi K Chikowero is the official spokesperson of Girl Child Network Zim

Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe is concerned about continued  media coverage by a woman called Vio Mak who writes and owns  some bogus newspapers in United Kingdom and generates articles under false names like HChigege. She is illegally  reporting on behalf of our charity without conducting professional interviews with our board and staff who are resident here in Zimbabwe. We are a professional organisation with a clear leadership structure and many of us have been with Girl Child Network Zimbabwe for many years and are not so new to its work to helping girls.

As a charity operating in Zimbabwe we wish to inform members of the public that Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe continues to serve girls as a voluntary organisation and helping out girls who need us especially in areas where they get raped and cannot escape. We pride ourselves as a grassroots organisation rooted in poor and marginalised communities and doing all to help.

As an organisation we are fully aware Vio Mak has been targeting the person of Betty Makoni who is Founder of the organisation and her personal anger and hatred for Betty Makoni should not be used to make unwarranted attacks on our charity. Betty Makoni is based in UK and has no day to day connection with operations of GCN Zimbabwe since three years ago.

We are an organisation which has massively invested in girls and we own a number of properties in Zimbabwe and thanks to local authorities and some traditional chiefs who donated pieces of land where we operate from without worries over rentals.

Girl Child Network Zimbabwe like many other charities rely on donor funding and we are pleased to announce that for 2011 Stephen Lewis Foundation and Bernard Van Leer have made commitments to support Girl Child Network Zimbabwe and those familiar with processes in receiving donor funding know an organisation must pass due diligence and this is at stage where we are.

As a non profit making organisation we have always relied on volunteers who give their time and over a decade we have relied on such committed men and women. Being a professional organisation any one of our staff or volunteers in need of help and support always get it from our Human Resources Department led by Ekenia Chifamba.

Girl Child Network Zimbabwe for the second time now wishes to inform all our supporters that Betty Makoni did a smooth transition to young women leaders based here in UK. She has supported us with advice and we have autonomy to run the organisation the way we feel fit.

Girl Child Network Zimbabwe wishes to inform all our donors that we have joined other African countries who are part of Girl Child Network Worldwide but our organisation is an autonomy running its own affairs. We consider any information being shared with public uncalled for. Given many girls needing our help we welcome more people who want to help volunteer their expertise in Zimbabwe. Together we should keep the work for girls forward and offer support as many girls rely on it. Many of us were assisted by Girl Child Network Zimbabwe and it is time to plough back. This work is about helping the most vulnerable girls and focussing our energies on girls as the  need is huge in Zimbabwe.

Any donors who want to engage us should feel welcome as we have everything at our disposal to deliver good programs for girls.

For all staff and volunteers who are helping girls in Zimbabwe, please note our Monday and Friday debriefing meetings are platforms to build our work and share best practices on assisting girls. As you know we have a media policy and all of us are professional and would never write an article on our work and include a woman who is thousands of miles away  and is not even aware what we are doing on a daily basis. We remain guided with spirit of volunteerism and non profit making as per founding principles and values of Girl Child Network since 1998. Being at Girl Child Network Zimbabwe remains a voluntary choice.

Members of press who want to keep up to date with our voluntary work should contact

Kumbirai L. Kahiya Chikowero

Email:gcnmarketcomms@gmail.com

Girl Child Network Zimbabwe

Communications and Public Relations Officer

( Acting Director)

Physical address: 16352

Bazooka Crescent

Zengeza 4

Chitungwiza

Mobile : +263 772 691 613

Web site www.gcnzimbabwe.org

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