TSHOLOTSHO’s Chief Tategulu has taken the rural district council to task, demanding a breakdown of how the $120 000 raised under the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) was disbursed by the local authority. Report by Divine Dube Own Correspondent
The chief told NewsDay yesterday the money was meant to benefit the community. He said council officials failed to attend a meeting held at Garia Safaris, Tsholotsho, last Friday to explain how the funds had been disbursed, raising the ire of villagers who suspect the money could have been abused.
“The council and its leaders must be accountable for what they have done with the money,” Chief Tategulu said.
“That money is for development and it is from proceeds of hunting that took place in my area. Failure by the council leadership to come clean on the matter is criminal and contemptuous of my authority.
“I want them to give me a full report of what took place. I will approach Local Government minister (Ignatius) Chombo’s office if I don’t get co-operation.
“They did not attend the meeting because they have a lot to hide.”
The villagers alleged council failed to remit part of the funds the community was supposed to get from the safari concession.
Villagers said they were supposed to get 64% from each elephant trophy.
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However, since the villagers had no bank account, the funds were reportedly deposited into the council account. A councillor who spoke on condition of anonymity told NewsDay that sometime last year, the matter of the missing funds was raised but, for unknown reasons, it was swept under the carpet. Themba Moyo, the local authority’s chief executive officer, is reported to have told the villagers to stay out of the matter as it was being handled by the courts.
Between 2010 and 2011, three Tsholotsho Rural District Council officials — Jericho Moyo, Martin Ndlovu and Sami Muleya — were arraigned before the courts for criminal abuse of office after allegedly influencing the purchase of cars meant for Campfire involving $37 000. The matter is pending in the courts. Council CEO Moyo could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.
Contacted for comment, Chombo said there were a lot of audit reports at his office, adding the Tsholotsho issue was not worth writing about.
