Five Tsholotsho councillors suspended over Campfire funds abuse

THE Government has suspended five Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) councillors over allegations of abuse of Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) funds.

The councillors were suspended last Friday following recommendations by a three-member investigations committee appointed by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe.

Those suspended are Clr Witness Khumalo (Ward 1) of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Clr Felix Tshuma (Ward 21, CCC), Clr Jabulani Sigadula (Ward 7, CCC), Clr Jabulani Ndlovu (Ward 10, Zanu-PF) and Clr Busani Mvundla (Ward 6, CCC).

According to a 20-page report submitted to Minister Garwe, the investigations committee chaired by the ministry’s director of local authorities, Mr Mike Mazai, found that the councillors routinely exceeded their lawful authority by issuing directives to Campfire committees despite having no legal mandate to do so.

Campfire is a flagship community-based programme designed to ensure that rural communities benefit directly from the sustainable use of wildlife and other natural resources through activities such as trophy hunting, tourism and forestry.

Funds generated under the programme are meant to support local development projects, including building schools, clinics, roads and water infrastructure.

The report states that the councillors improperly influenced decisions on the allocation of Campfire funds, undermined the independence and democratic integrity of the committees, and allowed partisan political interests to override community development objectives.

“This conduct was found to violate both the Rural District Councils Act and Campfire governance procedures,” reads part of the report.

The report outlines specific allegations against the councillors.
Clr Sigadula allegedly introduced an unauthorised individual into a Campfire meeting, who later fraudulently claimed travelling allowances paid from Campfire funds.

This reportedly resulted in financial prejudice to the committee and diversion of funds meant for community development.

Clr Ndlovu is accused of issuing directives to a ward Campfire committee on project prioritisation and resource allocation.

The committee chairperson reportedly admitted to acting on his instructions, a move that compromised the committee’s autonomy and violated governance procedures.

Clr Mvundla faces fraud allegations after he was entrusted with 1 000 litres of fuel to transport building materials for a school project, but failed to produce proper acquittals.

He allegedly submitted a single suspicious receipt to account for the entire fuel allocation.

“The investigation suggests possible abuse of public funds,” reads the report.

Clr Khumalo, who is facing abuse of office allegations, is accused of unilaterally stopping the operations of a timber logging company operating under a valid council contract.

The decision allegedly deprived the council of significant revenue and negatively affected local employment and livelihoods.

The committee noted that the councillors’ conduct potentially contravenes several legal provisions, including Section 174(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) relating to criminal abuse of duty by a public officer, Section 136 of the same Act covering theft or fraud involving entrusted property or funds and the Rural District Councils Act 9Chapter 29:13), which requires officials to act honestly, transparently and in good faith.

“The investigation concluded that there is a prima facie case for criminal prosecution and disciplinary action.

There is a pattern of entrenched misconduct where councillors abused their office, undermined community governance, diverted public resources and exposed the council to reputational and financial harm,” read the report.

Tsholotsho is one of several rural districts in Matabeleland North that rely heavily on Campfire revenues to fund development projects and mitigate human-wildlife conflict, making the integrity of the programme critical to community livelihoods and conservation efforts.

Matabeleland North local governance director Mr Tapiwa Zivoivoi confirmed the suspensions and said a tribunal would soon be constituted.

“Yes, I can confirm that five councillors from Tsholotsho Rural District Council have been suspended on different charges. They will be appearing before a tribunal to be set up by the minister soon,” he said.