London, United Kingdom – The Duke of Sussex has stepped down from his position as a patron of the African charity Sentebale, an organization he co-founded 20 years ago with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. The decision comes after a period of internal conflict within the charity, leaving Prince Harry expressing feelings of shock and heartbreak.
Established in Lesotho in 2006 as a tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, Sentebale aims to assist individuals in Lesotho and Botswana who are living in poverty and dealing with HIV and AIDS. The recent discord in the organization revolved around a disagreement regarding fundraising efforts focused in Africa.
In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso expressed gratitude to the departing trustees for their service and emphasized the importance of prioritizing the charity’s beneficiaries amidst the challenges faced. The decision by the trustees to resign was described as devastating but necessary due to a loss of trust in the chair of the board, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.
Following the resignations of the trustees, Sentebale has undergone a restructuring of its board to enable the implementation of a transformation agenda announced the previous year. The organization remains committed to its mission of supporting vulnerable populations in Africa.
In response to the allegations made against her, Dr. Chandauka defended her actions as being in line with the principles of fairness and integrity. She highlighted her efforts to address issues of poor governance, abuse of power, and misconduct within the organization, attributing the controversy to a larger effort to maintain transparency and accountability.
The rift within Sentebale underscores the challenges faced by charitable organizations in navigating internal conflicts while striving to fulfill their philanthropic missions. Despite the turmoil, the charity remains focused on its goal of providing aid to those in need, signaling a commitment to overcome the obstacles and continue its work in supporting communities in Africa.