Prince Harry’s dramatic resignation from Sentebale has sparked a storm of accusations and counterclaims. This left the African charity he co-founded in turmoil.
PRINCE HARRY AND SENTEBALE
The Duke of Sussex, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped down as patrons of the organisation earlier this week, according to Page Six.
They cited irreparable breakdowns in relations with Sentebale’s chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka. The fallout has been described by insiders as “unthinkable.”
Sentebale, founded in 2006 to support children affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, was once hailed as a beacon of hope for vulnerable youth in Southern Africa.
However, tensions escalated when Dr Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born corporate lawyer, accused Prince Harry of harassment and bullying.
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PRINCE HARRY
Speaking to Sky News, she claimed that Harry authorised the release of damaging information about her without informing her or other key members of the charity.
“Can you imagine what that attack has done to me, on me and the 540 individuals in Sentebale organisations and their families?” she said.
Dr Chandauka alleged that Prince Harry unleashed “the Sussex PR machine” to brief against her, calling it an example of “bullying at scale.”
She further claimed that misogyny and “misogynoir” were at the heart of the dispute.
“Beneath all the victim narrative is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about poor governance,” she told The Times.
PRINCE HARRY AND PRINCE SEEISO
In a joint statement with Prince Seeiso, Harry expressed devastation over the situation, according to The Independent.
“It is unthinkable that we have to do this. Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour of our mothers.
We will always be its founders, but this situation has become untenable.”
The princes resigned in solidarity with trustees who had also stepped down after requesting Dr Chandauka’s resignation—a move she resisted by suing the charity.
PLAYING THE ‘VICTIM CARD’
Dr Chandauka fired back at Harry’s claims, accusing Prince Harry of playing “the victim card” while using press tactics to harm those who challenged his conduct.
She described Sentebale as a “vanity project” for Harry and Seeiso. Meanwhile, sources close to Harry dismissed her allegations as “completely baseless.”
The controversy deepened when Dr Chandauka revealed that fundraising efforts had shifted focus to Africa.
Chandauka accused Harry of appointing board members without consultation. She also alleged that his filming commitments for Netflix disrupted charity operations.
The Charity Commission in the UK is now assessing concerns raised about Sentebale’s governance.
RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The organisation announced plans to restructure its board and shift its focus from HIV-related issues to broader goals like youth health and climate resilience in Southern Africa.
For South Africans following this saga, it raises questions about the sustainability of international charities operating within Africa.
Sentebale’s mission remains vital for young people across Lesotho and Botswana, but its leadership crisis threatens its future impact.
PRINCE HARRY, LAW AND ORDER
As Dr Chandauka concluded, “There are people who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat others.
Then they use the press they disdain to play victim.” Whether this marks an end or a new chapter for Sentebale remains to be seen.
SHOULD ROYALS BE HELD TO DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN RUNNING CHARITIES?
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