Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) is embroiled in a scandal involving the alleged misappropriation of Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) money.
The controversy pits five councillors, most from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), against Tsholotsho district development Coordinator (DDC) Aaron Gono, whom the councillors accuse of luanching a political witch-hunt.
Sources indicate that Gono has recommended the suspension of the five councillors from Wards 1, 6, 7, 10, and 21.
Three are members of the council’s environment committee, leading to allegations that the move is a deliberate attempt to reconfigure the committee in favour of ruling Zanu PF councillors.
According to insiders, Gono initiated an audit of selected Campfire wards without prior consultation or a council resolution.
Following his recommendation, Local Government and Public Works ministry dispatched investigators from Harare.
One councillor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed shock at the accusations, noting that ward councillors are not signatories to the Campfire funds.
“The communities were asked to fund an investigation into a matter they know nothing about,” the councillor said.
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“What is surprising is that while only five wards are accused, eleven wards—including those not implicated—were made to contribute US$500 each.”
The councillor labelled this a scandal, stating that communities never agreed to the investigation and have now lost over $5,000 in development funds.
“We want to see a breakdown of how less than four investigators spent $5 000 in less than a week on travel and subsistence. The council should have paid from its share of the Campfire proceeds, not the communities,” the councillor added.
Ward 21 councillor Felix Tshuma indicaated that councillors are not involved in Campfire financial operations.
“The chairperson, secretary, and treasurer of the campfire committee are the bank signatories,” Tshuma said
“The chief executive officer is the principal signatory. Ward councillors are not signatories; we only sit on committees”.:
Ward 1 councillor Witness Khumalo said his name was being tarnished on political grounds.
“I never saw the investigators, but I have heard about the suspension,” Khumalo stated.
A source revealed that a Zanu PF councillor from Ward 10 is also being targeted for being “politically incorrect,” after he challenged a council decision to purchase a US$2 000 water pump, insisting a similar pump costing US$300 was sufficient.
Gono was not reachable for comment.
The allegations have, however, created deep divisions within the council, with calls for full transparency regarding the funds used for the investigation.
