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Rutendo Hadebe elected as new ZIMCODD chairperson
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)
March 31, 2009

Mrs. Rutendo Hadebe, who has served on the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) board in various capacities over the past five years, was elected as the coalition's new Chairperson at an Elective General Meeting (EGM) held in Harare today. She replaces Jonah Gokova, an accomplished economic justice campaigner who was the founding chairperson of ZIMCODD. Mr. Masimba Kuchera was elected as the Vice Chairperson, replacing Mrs. Irene Takundwa, a gender activist.

Mrs Hadebe has previously served as a member of the ZIMCODD board's Finance Committee as well as the Chairing its Information Committee. She is the former Director of the Women in Politics Support Network (WiPSU) and the former Head of Communications at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. She brings to ZIMCODD vast experience in the area of media and communications for development, having worked in the media, gender and environment sectors.

Prior to his appointment as National Vice Chairperson, Mr. Masimba Kuchera represented the Youth Sector on the ZIMCODD National Board. He is a Programs Officer for Policy Research and Analysis at the Students Solidarity Trust (SST). He serves on the Commission of Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) which is a commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He is a former Vice Chairperson of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and formerly General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ).

Giving his keynote address, the outgoing Chairperson, Jonah Gokova said that the outgoing board is proud to be identified with the value of leadership renewal which is necessary in all organisations that belong to the people, urging partners in the Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) processes and other social movement building structures to do the same. He thanked his colleagues on the board for helping to shape strategic direction of programmes that characterize ZIMCODD at present and also recognized funding partners for supporting the organisation since inception. Addressing the meeting, Mrs. Hadebe and Mr. Kuchera both thanked delegates for placing their confidence on them, saying they were prepared to take the organisation to new levels. The meeting expressed its appreciation of the former Chairman's years of dedicated service to the social and economic justice movement in the country.

Apart from dealing with the succession process, the meeting discussed the positioning of the organisation in relation to the current environment. The historic power sharing agreement between ZANU (PF), MDC (T) and MDC (M) in September 2008 sets the frame for addressing this political fundamentals of the country's crisis, giving civic organisations such as ZIMCODD an opportunity to promote multi stakeholder dialogue, and table critical issues pertaining to revival of the national economy, lasting solutions to the humanitarian crisis and other key concerns.

Visit the ZIMCODD fact sheet

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