Power struggle rocks Zimbabwe's Akashinga

Akashinga, Zimbabwe's internationally acclaimed all-female anti-poaching and wildlife conservation unit, is facing its deepest crisis yet amid allegations of a bitter boardroom power struggle that has led to the exit of more than a dozen senior and middle managers.

The turmoil is alleged to stem from what sources describe as a "soft coup" that began in late 2024, triggered by a whistleblower statement submitted by an estranged former employee, Colin Cloete. The whistleblowing focused on alleged financial and human resources violations and has since snowballed into far-reaching investigations that have shaken the organisation's leadership and operations.

Sources who spoke to this publication claim the whistleblower process was masterminded by Melody Western, a former executive director of Akashinga USA and now head of Embrace Global. According to these sources, thousands of dollars were allegedly paid to a rival of the former Akashinga Zimbabwe board as part of a factional battle for control of the organisation.

A human resources report compiled by Gareth Chagonda of Smart HR Solutions and dated May 23, 2025, indicates that the payments were made under the guise of covering costs linked to an internal investigation. In March 2025, Akashinga USA, under Western's leadership, initiated investigations into alleged financial and HR misconduct within the Zimbabwean entity.

An empowerment initiative known as the Leading Brave Fellowship is alleged to have been used as a platform to extract incriminating testimonies from staff members. Sources claim that some fellows were taken to countries including the United States and the United Kingdom, where Western allegedly met them and obtained what are described as coached statements. The fellowship, initially led by Western's associate Carey Bohjanen, was reportedly awarded a contract worth close to US$130 000, which sources say was neither fully disclosed to the board nor subjected to proper procurement procedures.

Western did not respond to questions sent to her by this publication.

An internal memo dated May 22 and co-signed by Akashinga USA board chair Ian Mackenzie-Ross, board secretary Michelle Nevin and board treasurer Elizabeth Atherton outlined the scope of the investigations. The memo introduced Rudo Mugandani of Scanlen and Holderness as the Zimbabwe-based investigator and CJ Pearl as the United States investigator operating under Firewatch.

When contacted, Mugandani declined to comment, citing lawyer-client confidentiality. "Akashinga is my client. As a journalist you are aware of lawyer-client confidentiality, so you can't expect me to comment," she said.

Founded in 2017, Akashinga gained global recognition for its unique conservation model that recruits and trains women, many from marginalised backgrounds, as armed rangers. Operating mainly in the Lower Zambezi Valley before expanding elsewhere, the unit combined wildlife protection with social rehabilitation and community development, attracting substantial international donor funding. Among those once employed by the organisation was Tariro, the daughter of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has since left.

The alleged internal battles are said to have culminated in the resignation of several senior managers, including founder and chief executive officer Damien Mander, who left in September 2025 after being placed on suspension in March. Leaked documents show that Mander and another executive, Henry Macilwaine, were placed on administrative leave on March 17, 2025, with allegations against them reportedly never formally presented in writing.

An anonymously authored letter posted last week on Akashinga's executive committee platform paints a bleak picture of the organisation's state. The letter claims funding is collapsing, operational capacity is shrinking, key partners have withdrawn and staff numbers have fallen sharply, attributing the crisis not to mission failure but to governance breakdowns.

The letter further alleges that internal disputes were mishandled, investigations escalated without procedural fairness and evidence selectively used. It claims that materials reviewed, including HR reports, legal correspondence, governance bylaws and even an assessment attributed to Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation, do not substantiate the original allegations used to justify leadership suspensions and a structural takeover.

Akashinga has since appointed wildlife conservationist Stacy Crevello as its new chief executive officer, but sources say staff morale remains low amid ongoing financial and operational strain. Crevello declined to comment directly on the allegations, instead referring questions to Akashinga's official communication channels.

In a subsequent emailed response attributed simply to "The Akashinga Team", the organisation dismissed reports of instability, insisting it remains financially and operationally stable. The statement said donor support remains intact and that conservation, community and ranger programmes continue across active landscapes in Zimbabwe and beyond, adding that governance and leadership transitions are a normal part of NGO evolution.

However, signs of strain have been echoed by community partners. Agrippa Mapisaunga, chairman of Nyamakate Football Club, which has been partly sponsored by Akashinga, said support dropped sharply last year. He said funding for the team fell from about US$16 000 in one season to US$4 000, making it difficult to meet league obligations. Ward councillor Nomatter Mulisa also said several community projects previously supported by Akashinga, including road maintenance, have stopped.

At Songo Camp in Binga, rangers raised concerns about delayed food supplies, saying they have at times been forced to bring food from home, a situation they say did not exist previously.

Documents seen by this publication also allege that Cloete was paid US$70 000 under unclear circumstances, a move perceived by some employees as a reward for cooperating with investigations. The payment allegedly triggered an exodus of senior staff, including head of operations Shadreck Midzi and country manager Wayne Cumming. Both confirmed their resignations but declined to comment further, citing non-disclosure agreements.

The Smart HR Solutions report ultimately recommended that the investigation outcomes be disregarded, citing concerns over credibility, transparency and alleged witness manipulation. A separate post-investigation report attributed to the CIO's Chinhoyi branch also noted irregularities, including claims that employees wanted Mander reinstated due to project delays following his removal. It remains unclear why the intelligence agency would be involved, and efforts to obtain comment from the CIO were unsuccessful.

Despite the allegations, a senior Akashinga official who spoke anonymously insisted the organisation has since stabilised. "Although the situation appeared concerning six months ago, the organisation has since recovered," the official said.

This report is based on interviews with multiple current and former employees, community representatives and individuals with direct knowledge of Akashinga's operations and governance. Several sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issues and the ongoing nature of internal and external processes. All named individuals were given the right of reply, although not all responded.