Following the news that Prince Harry has stepped down from his beloved charity, Sentebale, the chair of the charity, has spoken out in a blistering statement criticising those who “play the victim card and use the very press they disdain.”
Senteable, which means “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, was jointly set up by The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and has spent almost two decades dedicating itself to helping African orphans and tackling poverty and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.
The decision to step down came after “unthinkable” controversy from within and has now been met by a statement from the organisation’s chair, Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer who was appointed last year. The row appears to have stemmed from a decision to move the charity’s fundraising operation to Africa, as several key figures then left the organisation.
Dr Chandauka has alleged there was a “cover-up” as she condemned the “weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir [discrimination against black women]”.
Speaking to The Daily Mail after the news broke, she went on to criticise “people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people”, adding that such people “then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain.”
She hit out at the number of accusations at her colleagues, saying: “For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account.”
Dr Chandauka continued: “I am an African who has had the privilege of a worldclass education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.
“I chose to join Sentebale first and foremost as a proud African who understands that, in the spirit of ubuntu: to whom much is given, much is expected.
“Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve. My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means.
“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.
“Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?
“Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle.’
“I have one job. I must focus on fundraising for the very important work of the young people who inspire the incredible team at Sentebale who make sacrifices daily at a time when geopolitics is severely impacting funding for development work in Africa.
“I am indebted to those who have stood by me and picked up my urgent call for help so that we can continue the mission at Sentebale. I will continue to faithfully perform my role as Chair of the Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with others who are interested in issues of health, wealth and climate resilience for young people in Africa.”
