Companies house writes to YLPA as investigations proceed

YLPA logo

Companies house has moved in to investigate Youth Leadership Project Africa.

According to communication received from a Companies house technical offences manager.Youth Leadership Project Africa maybe in breach of companies Act 2006

Registered in UK under company number 07188547, and operating as a charity organisation before its facebook page was changed to company charity, the company was reported to be misleading citizens after some concerned citizens queried the group’s activities on facebook.

Under Sections 82 to 84 of the Companies Act 2006 limited companies letter-headed paper, emails and website must disclose the full company name, company number, registered office address and place of registration (i.e. a statement such as Registered in England & Wales).

The information which was not showing on their website prompted some citizens to query its activities among other concerns.The company‘s activities were doubted by some concerned citizens after discussions by its members allegedly pointed to some sinister motives and operations.

Companies house moved in to investigate if Youth Leadership Project Africa was operating according to lawful procedures as required by the Companies Act 2006, as YLPA management refused to answer our interview questions.

In an email addressed to Mr Mkandawire and Ms Siwela, the Technical Offences Manager in Cardiff wrote that the company “may be in breach of the Companies Act 2006 - in that it does not show your registered details.”

He went on to request that YLPA contacts the representative as a matter of urgency, and the representative know if the website is owned by the limited company so that companies house  can decide on the best course of action.

Youth Leadership Project Africa’s management team comprises of, Antonia Vimbai Chonyera –Jenning (Chairperson), Abigail Siziba (Advisor), Ben Chiza Mkandawire (HR Manager),Tafadzwa God’s wish Gidi(Projects manager),Betina Sibanda Siwela (Events and publicity manager),Ashley Mwanza (Secretary)and Precious Bumhira –Matsika (Treasurer),

According to the company’s mission statement, Youth Leadership Project Africa looks at “resuscitating Africa's education system.” They are working on projects in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa.

“As a non-profit organization, Youth Leadership Project Africa (YLPA) is a growing organization that is dedicated to the education and self enhancement for the youth in Africa and heather to the community. YLPA promotes positive lifestyles, focusing on children who are no doubt the future leaders of the vast African continent. It is our belief that every child deserves an education, and it is our aim to see to it that the African child acquires this basic right. The main vision and mission is based on working with grass root projects in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region to help support and sustain the rebuilding of our nations. The charity focuses on raising funds for African countries focusing mainly on Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa at the moment.”

The company goes on to state that as a non-profit organization, Youth Leadership Project Africa (YLPA), was founded in May 2009.The charity commission has since confirmed that the company is not a registered charity organisation and that it is a criminal offence for an organisation to pose as a charity if they are not one.

One of the concerned citizens phone the Zimbabwe embassy to check if they know about the company only to be told that the embassy had received some calls about a group going around collecting money and they suspected that it could be a scam. However the citizen did not elaborate if the group was Youth Leadership Project Africa.