adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
MANGWE District villagers are demanding that they benefit from their natural resources as is the case in other districts.They said they were not getting anything from hunting and mining activities that were taking place in Mangwe.
Villagers from Makorokoro presented their grievances to Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko during a question and answer session when he visited the area on Wednesday.
They said a lot of hunting activities were taking place at Shasha Wildlife area.
The villagers said people from outside were not ploughing anything back to the community yet they exploited their resources.
“We’ve a lot of hunting activities going on in our area but we’ve nothing to show for it. We appeal to the government to intervene and help us benefit from our own resources. Other districts are being developed by their resources through the Community Share Ownership Schemes and Campfire. We’ve no such programmes here,” said a villager.
Mangwe Rural District Council Chairperson, Roland Mafesi Ncube, also said hunting was going on in the district without communities benefiting.
“The community is entitled to get 50 percent out of every animal that’s killed within their area. However, as a council we haven’t yet started implementing this but what’s expected from the community is for them to apply for a hunting quota,” said Ncube.
The incoming chief of Hobodo area, Adolph Ncube, said hunters frequented the area to kill animals which include leopards and elephants.
He also said large trucks frequently came to their area and shipped firewood away.
Ncube said the only benefit which villagers received was meat left behind by hunters.
“On a daily basis we come across people travelling in large trucks who come to collect firewood and sometimes sand from our area. They just come unannounced and when we engage them they tell us that they’ve been granted permission.
“There are quite a number of animals in this area and it’s unfortunate that we’re not benefiting from their existence. The hunters collect the trophies and leave with them.
“There are also miners from neighbouring districts operating in the area who are exploiting our resources at no expense,” said Ncube.
The incoming chief said the council officials made a resolution that an individual wishing to chop firewood had to seek the approval of the local leadership and pay a certain fee to the chief of the area who will then facilitate that they receive a clearance letter.
Online Reporter