Save Valley Conservancy appeals to Cabinet

Wilfried Pabst yesterday confirmed the cabinet request.
“It is not proper for me to give you details but I can confirm that such letter has been delivered to Government,” he said.

The storm has also drawn in divisions among Cabinet ministers.
Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema says the farmers should “play ball” and work with the partners.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi has however called for a re-visit the issuance of licences. He said the conflict could jeopardise Zimbabwe’s chances of successfully hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly set for August next year.

Minister Mzembi also questioned the partners who have benefited from Government’s Wildlife Based Land Reform.
There are allegations that the new partners are beneficiaries of other empowerment programmes in such sectors as mining and agriculture.
Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, who is one of the partners, has also been caught up in the storm.

He admits to owning a sugar cane plot in Chiredzi district.
Last week, new partners allegedly disrupted an anti-poaching meeting and dismissed the conservancy chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza.
Chiredzi South legislator Cde Ailess Baloyi, who has a lease, was elected chairman. Mr Nyabadza however dismissed Cde Baloyi’s elevation to the chairmanship.

“In February this year, I was elected to chair the executive committee representing Arda and that still stands,” he said.
Mr Nyabadza said the new partners turned a monthly security meeting to elect a new chair.
“All security sectors were represented and that is not the platform to discuss administrative and management issues.”

He said the security meeting was convened to discuss anti-poaching measures for briefing to executive committee members.
“The meeting was recorded and people who contributed were captured in the minutes verbatim.”
Mr Nyabadza said the minutes had been distributed to the relevant authorities.

“My office remains in charge of the executive. That issue is not contested by anyone except Mr Baloyi who is expressing his wish that I am not the chairman. That is a personal and limited idea that will not be bought by my party (Zanu-PF) and Government,” he said.

Cde Baloyi last week said he will chair the executive as a representative of the new partners while Mr Nyabadza represents the farmers.

Members of the conservancy argue that two-thirds of them have some form of indigenous participation.
They said their indigenisation proposals had been ignored while no form of engagement has been forthcoming from Government. Arda is a founding member of the conservancy.