: Suspected Zim Internet Scam Chaired by Barbara Nyagomo hits Facebook 

Suspected Zim Internet Scam Chaired by Barbara Nyagomo hits Facebook
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Samkeliso Ndhlovu  on 16 February, 2010 04:26:00
 
I am asking that you investigate a new development on Facebook. I am writing you
because I see that the Chairperson of the Facebook group was negatively
mentioned in some of your stories and also I have faith that you will
investigate this issue professionally and accurately as you did with the other
stories.
I have noted that Facebook users have once again fallen into an unknown alleged
trap where an alleged trickster Barbara Nyagomo-Mambo is chairing a group of
officers who have taken various posts to lead a sort of a campaign to have at
least one million Zimbabweans join the face book group 1MillionZimbabwean
Voices. Of late  I read  on your paper that you were investigating a case of
fraud in which Barbara Nyagomo-Mambo and her husband Michael Mambo are alleged
to have stolen someone’s company and also that her husband spend sometime in
jail for fraud. Is the wife of an alleged fraudster the right person to chair
the campaign on Facebook which involves receiving donations from the public for
a cause that is not clearly disclosed to anyone’s honest satisfaction. Where
is the money being donated going to and for what purpose? People have become
internet fraudsters and it is my hope that you will investigate this issue
because Barbara Nyagomo doesn’t have a good record when it comes to handling
public funds.
You also published before that Barbara Nyagomo-Mambo ran a dubious petition on
Facebook in which she was calling for the British police and the Charity
commission to investigate GCNW after which your paper investigated that there
was no private account and latest information that I read on your website is
that Priscilla Nyathi who was co founder of GCNW allegedly converted some Tare
Funds to her personal use. Your paper also published another story stating that
the dubious petition that Barbara Nyagomo- Mambo wrote has since disappeared
from the internet since it was written on false claims after GCNW refused to pay
her voluntary allowances for suspicious phone charges. With all this one has
every reason to doubt if the Facebook 1MillionZimbabweansVoices is being done
honestly or not.
I am worried that unsuspecting people might be frauded of their monies if this
group is not investigated. I don’t understand why it is so easy for some
people to be fooled into believing that this group’s intention is to help
Zimbabwe. After all the stories that I have heard about Barbara Nyagomo-Mambo it
is important that you investigate this Facebook group.
After joining and studying the group of which I am currently a member, The 1
Million Zimbabwe Voices was started on facebook under the category of Community
Organizations and it has one simple formula according to James Watadza (WHO SOME
PEOPLE DOUBTING THE GROUP ARE SUSPECTING THAT HE/SHE IS BARBARA NYAGOMO-MAMBO)
A visit to the recently unveiled website http://www.1millionzimbabweanvoices.com
did not provide much of the information I was looking for since the Facebook
group started. There are no visible objectives or aims set.
Howeever there is a DONATE button on the website even though I did not get
information on how the money raised is going to be used. I am hopeful that your
paper will visit the website and contact the officers involved to get
information on the birth of this group and how the money raised through the
campaign will be used.
The officers of the Facebook group are listed below as:
1.BARBARA NYAGOMO(Chairperson )
2.JAMES WATADZA (Lead Facilitator South Africa )
3.ROBERT STROBEL(IT Manager )
4.BETINA TINA AFRICANQUEENLIONESS SIBANDA (Events/Campaign Manager UK )
5.MARCELINE AFRICANPRINCESS MUTIKORI (Fundraising Manager UK )
6.KUDZAI VLADMIR NYAKUTSIKWA (Events/Campaign Manager South Africa )
7.NANDIPA NANDO MALANGE (Fundraising/Membership Manager South Africa )
8.MARY ADAMS (Secretary/Campaign Manager USA )
9.DAVID BLATT (Membership/Campaign Manager USA )
10.NGONI KAMHUKA (Lead Facilitator Botswana)
According to the group’s website their vision among other factors indicate
that when they reach their target of 1 million ‘voices’ on board, they run
THEIR own Independent online election in which THEY choose one person that THEY,
the voices, believe will be an able representative for THEM in the next
election. Information I was given us is saying the group’s Chairperson Barbara
Nyagomo –Mambo has since assumed a new role of activist and has suddenly
developed a great interest in politics which most likely led her to start this
campaign.
You can check on their website for suspicious statements like  “Any voices can
nominate themselves, campaign and justify why they should be OUR representative.
We set the rules, and as long as these rules are followed every candidate has a
FREE and FAIR chance to win the election and stand as OUR CHOSEN representative.
Thus through a democratic process we will have chosen an Independent Candidate
to represent the wave and this Candidate will stand for us in the next
Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Zimbabwe.”
My problem again is Zimbabwe’s elections will be in 2011 according to news in
Zimbabwe. According to the Group Officers location information none of them seem
to be residing in Zimbabwe as of now. I am asking myself if they are going to be
represented by a president from the diaspora or from Zimbabwe. How is the group
going to register a candidate for the upcoming Zimbabwe election and questions
to that effect have to be investigated Mr Editor.
Here is their Vision on their website
"Greetings to one and all of you. We welcome our fellow Zimbabweans from all
walks of life, from every colour, creed and tribe. We welcome you no matter what
your native language is, no matter your wealth, passion, religion or sexual
choice. We are all Zimbabweans, and 1 Million Zimbabwean Voices is a place for
you, me and everyone of us to stand shoulder to shoulder, together.
1 Million Zimbabwean Voices, has one simple formula. Let us take the time to
explain this to you now, so you don’t wonder what our purpose is and how we
propose to achieve our final goal.
Firstly we want to get 1 million or more Zimbabwean Internet Users through
various social media channels such as Facebook & Twitter, both in the diaspora
region and Zimbabwe. 1 million is not a finite goal, as many voices as possible
are required to create a wave of voices. When they sign up to the
“Wave”..they are not joining a political party, they are not expected to
start walking differently, eat differently, speak differently. We would ask
nothing of you bar that you invite your friends, family and any other Zimbabwean
that you know would be excited and keen to join the wave. We’d also like to
see every member of the wave freely contribute their thoughts and ideas to the
group and make their voice heard, be it on our forum, in our discussions or via
our posts.
Secondly when we reach our target of 1 million ‘voices’ on board, we run OUR
own Independent online election in which WE choose one person that WE, the
voices, believe will be an able representative for US in the next election. Any
voices can nominate themselves, campaign and justify why they should be OUR
representative. We set the rules, and as long as these rules are followed every
candidate has a FREE and FAIR chance to win the election and stand as OUR CHOSEN
representative. Thus through a democratic process we will have chosen an
Independent Candidate to represent the wave and this Candidate will stand for us
in the next Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Zimbabwe.
Thirdly we all rally behind our chosen candidate, and campaign in the coming
Presidential Elections in Zimbabwe with the idea of each and every member of the
wave standing by our Representative, and voting for them in the election.
The idea behind the Wave is simple. The facts of the last Zimbabwean
Presidential Election were that there were 4.4 million voters, a good chunk of
which were ghost voters(although the full number will never be known). If there
are 2.5 million Zimbabweans who voted for a change of direction…then we know
there will be impetus on the ground to usher in that change. All we need to get
that ball rolling is for 1 million voices to join the cause and en masse
GUARANTEE change in Zimbabwe.
We know that there are in excess of 4 million Zimbabweans living in various
places around the world. For many of you, you have chosen a foreign land as your
home, but you will never be a Zimbabwean Citizen in your chosen country. Too
long have we been regarded as third class foreigners in another man’s world.
It is time to stand together, en mass, as one voice and take change home to
Zimbabwe. Together as one we can force change to come to our land, and together
we can put a freely and democratically elected leader into power as our leader.
If we get 1 Million or more voices in one singular wave of dissension…we can
CHOOSE who we want to be the next president of Zimbabwe.
WE….CAN…CHOOSE…WHO..WE…WANT..TO..BE..PRESIDENT!!!!
Sometimes the best solution, is the simplest.
1 Million Zimbabwean Voices. Have you done all you can to add other voices to
the wave? Really?
We thank you for your time and membership.
1 Million Zimbabwean Voices".
Below is an unedited description about the group on  facebook as written by the
so called James Watadza
"1 Million Zimbabwean Voices", has one simple formula. I am telling you now so
you don't wonder what the destination is, why we are here:
1. We want to get 1 million or more, facebook & twitter users both in the
diaspora, region and Zimbabwe, rich and poor...2 million if possible, and create
a wave of voices. When they sign up to the "Wave"..they are not joining a
political party, they are not expected to start walking differently, eat
differently, speak differently...we expect nothing from them...except 2
things...to invite every one of their friend to join the "wave", and contribute
to us reaching 1 million. The second expectation, is for each voice, each group
member, to be heard, be it in forums (fora?), discussions and/or posts.
2. With the 1 million 'voices' on board, we run OUR own online election in which
WE choose one person that WE, the voices, believe will be an able representative
for US in the next election. All voices can nominate themselves, campaign and
justify why they should be OUR representative. We set the rules, and run our
online election. Whoever we choose becomes our candidate. That candidate will
represent us in the next election
3. Next phase: In the next elections, we ALL vote for our representative...all 1
million of us.
As stated repeatedly here...in the last elections, there were 4.4 million
voters, a good chunk of which was ghost voters. If there are 2.2million
Zimbabweans who voted for change of direction...then we know there will be
impetus on the ground to usher in that change..All we need is 1 million facebook
voices to GUARANTEE change in Zimbabwe.
If we get 1 Million or more voices in one singular wave of dissension...we can
CHOOSE who we want to be the next president of Zimbabwe.
WE....CAN...CHOOSE...WHO..WE...WANT..TO..BE..PRESIDENT!!!!
Sometimes the best solution, is the simplest.
1million voices. Have you done all you can to add other voices to the wave?
Really?
By James Watadza”