Hunting dispute erupts in Lupane

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
GWAYI Wildlife Association in Lupane’s Lupanda Ward 22 members are up in arms with a management committee, accusing it of squandering proceeds from hunts and refusing to vacate the office.

The association was established in 2015 and elections were supposed to be held last year to replace a committee chaired by Mr Zenzo Tshuma. There are more than 100 plot holders doing wildlife farming in the area in Kusile Rural District Council (KRDC) and a majority of them are businesspeople.

Farmers said the committee deliberately postponed elections claiming five years was not enough for them to achieve their goals on behalf of the community. The association gets hunting quotas from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and has been conducting hunts since 2019 but farmers complain that proceeds have not reached the community as management has allegedly converted everything to its own use.

While farmers accuse the committee of misappropriating funds, the committee accuses farmers of being greedy and wanting to usurp power. Farmers are not happy that no proper annual general meeting has been held as the committee reportedly convened a meeting which it claimed as an AGM last year without inviting all members.

“They have postponed elections saying we will only vote in 2023 and no one can challenge them. People are scared to talk because of victimisation. They claim we want to take over their positions yet all people want is transparency,” said a farmer on condition of anonymity.

Another farmer said few members have received groceries from the proceeds of hunts while the management committee grabs everything. Farmers said they want proceeds from hunting quotas to be used to fix roads, build a school and a clinic.

“We are disgruntled members and we want minutes of the AGM held in 2020 and the financial statement for 2019 so we know how our money is being used. The committee threatens to deal with anyone who challenges them hence people are scared. We want audited statements as per the constitution but they have been blocking that,” said another farmer.

The committee chairman Mr Tshuma declined to comment.

“I cannot comment on anything about this issue because it is in court,” said Mr Tshuma.

Farmers recently approached the High Court seeking an order to block use of the association account number and the application was granted. KRDC chief executive Mr Christopher Chuma said the issue has been dragging on for some time.

“We are aware of the issue but it is not within our Campfire management area. They are plot holders and operate like safaris hence they apply to ZimParks for hunting quotas. As a local authority we only involve ourselves in their affairs upon invitation,” said Mr Chuma.