NACZ rubbishes Nhimbe

30 Sep, 2018 - 00:09 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Takudzwa Chihambakwe
THE National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has rubbished claims by arts advocacy organisation, Nhimbe Trust, which is challenging the appointment of the arts body’s new director, Nicholas Moyo.

Nhimbe Trust claims that Moyo was elevate through a flawed process.

Last week, the Trust released a statement in which it pointed out that NACZ had violated the constitution in appointing the NACZ director.

“We are concerned by the improper tradition that has been set of simply elevating officials in the National Arts Council without regard to sound human resources practices of seeking the best qualified for the job,” reads an excerpt from the Nhimbe Trust statement.

“We, therefore, expect that the council will, in filling the director’s vacancy, observe and uphold the requirements of good governance stipulated in sections 3(1)(h), 9 of the constitution and particularly section 194(1)(k) which provides that ‘employment practices must be based on merit, ability, objectivity, fairness . . . ’,” the statement went on.

However, NACZ board chairperson, Professor Herbert Chimhundu said the claims are not based on facts.

“All the proper procedures, consultations and authorisations were completed. So as far as we are concerned, there is nothing amiss. Their statement is not based on facts,” said Prof Chimhundu.

He also revealed that the process of filling the post following the resignation of Elvas Mari was done in liaison with the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. “The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation has a complete record of the whole process. From the consultations, interviews, shortlisting, right through to the authorisations. Everything is on record and it is lodged with them as well,” he said.

The NACZ chairperson also highlighted that this is not the first time that Nhimbe Trust has made such “baseless” statements.

“NACZ has not responded to Nhimbe as this is not the first time they have made such allegations, which are not based on facts. To me it is like a campaign and we do not respond to that.

“As far as we are concerned, everything was above aboard. Nhimbe Trust wrote to the ministry and they demanded that the ministry should respond to them in two weeks. We are still within the two weeks. So we will see the outcome but on our side, we kept the entire process transparent,” said Prof Chimhundu.

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