The Conservancy is the current focus of a ZANU PF land grab campaign that has also exposed divisions within the party. A group of ZANU PF chefs known as the ‘Masvingo Initiative’ claim to have taken over the Conservancy, ignoring warnings about the destruction their actions will bring to the wildlife and tourism sectors.
The group, including Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge, Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke and war vet Shuvai Mahofa, were earlier this year given 25 year land leases in the Conservancy and recently granted hunting licences by the National Parks chief Vitalis Chadenga.
In the name of ‘indigenisation’, this Masvingo gang appointed some of their own officials as the new Conservancy leaders, after invading the area and disrupting a Conservancy management meeting last month.
A more detailed list has now been revealed by the independent Newsday newspaper, and it includes several active and retired officials from the military, intelligence and ZANU PF structures.
Among them are the Health deputy minister Douglas Mombeshora, ZANU PF central committee member Enock Porusingazi, war vet leader Joseph Chinotimba and the late Vice-President Simon Muzenda’s son, Tongai.
Charles Taffs from the Commercial farmers Union (CFU) told SW Radio Africa that he could not confirm whether the names on the new list were involved in the Save takeover, but he said there is definitely massive looting of Save Conservancy taking place.
“These individuals would appear to be positioning themselves to make a huge amount of money. I think it is high time the rest of the world takes a stern position against what is happening in this country,” Taffs said.
Taffs explained that if the United Nations World Tourism Organisation goes ahead with their General Assembly in Victoria Falls next year, the whole event would be a farce against this chaotic background of looting.
“The Save Conservancy looting is the tip of the iceberg of what is happening in this entire country and looting , pillaging and raping of land and mineral resources is just astronomical,” Taffs explained.
He added: “What really upsets me is that the rest of the world has sat back and allowed this rape and pillaging to continue until such a time as its affected one or a couple of the high-powered investors from their own country.”
The full list of beneficiaries published in Newsday:
Lieutenant Colonel David Moyo, Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, Retired Colonel Claudius Makova, Assistant Commissioner Connel Dube, Major General Engelbert Rugeje, Brigadier General Livingstone Chineka, Masvingo Provincial Intelligence Officer Chibaya,
Higher Education minister Stan Mudenge, Health deputy Minister Douglas Mombeshora, ZANU PF Central Committee member Enock Porusingazi, MPs Ailess Baloyi, Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri, Noel Mandebvu, Shuvai Mahofa, Titus Maluleke and Ronald Rundava.
Health deputy minister Douglas Mombeshora, ZANU PF central committee member Enock Porusingazi, war vet leader Joseph Chinotimba and the late Vice-President Simon Muzenda’s son, Tongai.
ex-Tourism secretary Sylvester Maunganidze, Nelson Mawema, Farai Mukota, Bertha Chikwama, one Motokai, Chiefs Gudo and Mundau Tshovani, Tafadzwa Ngarande, Ray Musimbwa, Grey Mushava, Josiah Pasi, Jeddy Jaboon, Gladman Chibememe, Masvingo provincial administrator Felix Chikovo, Elliot Takawira, believed to be related to the late former ZANU PF vice-president Leopold Takawira among others. SW Radio Africa
Post published in: News