Discontent is simmering at the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Zimbabwe office where staff members accuse the director of making their working conditions hard.
Unesco regional director and Zimbabwe representative, Ms Nisha, assumed her role in February this year.
Her office covers nine countries — Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Nisha replaced Professor Arthur Lidia Brito who was posted to France as assistant director general Natural Sciences in Paris.
Nisha led the Unesco office for the Pacific States before coming to Zimbabwe.
The Standard obtained a letter of complaint by disgruntled Unesco-Zimbabwe workers raising a distress call over what they said were unfavourable working conditions since their current boss set foot in the country.
The workers recently wrote to Unesco head office in France over the same complaints.
“Unesco sent a team from France that did a marvelous job but the suffering at the hands of the director continues and as employees who are being affected by this we cannot just continue being frustrated,” their letter of complaint reads.
- Climate change resilience projects for Mat North, Manicaland
- Unesco workers raise concerns over boss
Keep Reading
“The June Unesco newsletter carried a comment about the lack of responsibility by Unesco Harare staff, which damages the reputation of the office.”
The director is being accused of lack of respect to the senior management team, inhuman treatment of staff and general lack of respect among other allegations.
The staff members said they were all highly demotivated as a result.
“Lack of respect to the senior management team,” the workers alleged.
“No leader works without a close team to discuss how to run an organisation.
“Our current director, Nisha, does not consult or plan with management.
“This is unacceptable and is killing teamwork.
“The role of Unesco in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is fast losing relevance, and this cannot continue.”
According to the workers, Unesco drivers were also affected.
“Operational hours of the organisation are 8am to 5pm daily, but Unesco drivers are made daily to work outside these hours,” the letter reads.
No comment could be obtained from Nisha, Unesco-Zimbabwe or from staff association members Chimbidzika Mapfumo and Ygainnia Hamandishe.
United Nations in Zimbabwe Staff Association president Tinashe Mariga also did not respond to emailed questions sent on Friday.
Unesco is a specialised agency of the United Nations with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
