Agric show society under fire
THE Kadoma Agricultural Show Society leadership has come under fire from stakeholders for alleged mismanagement of funds and personalising the show grounds.
The leadership, whose chair is Mr Tobias Chodeva, was ushered in as an interim committee to oversee the running of the 2016 Agricultural Show and has allegedly amended the constitution several times without consulting the members.
An anonymous letter addressed to the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) board member for Mashonaland West Mr Francis Khondanani stated that the Kadoma show ground had deteriorated, with some board members reportedly looting building materials.
“We are writing to express our concern over the state of our showground and the way the interim committee is running the affairs of the Show Society,” read the letter.
“For years we have voiced our concerns, but it looks like no one is prepared to address them. Our show ground is the worst in Zimbabwe and yet exhibitions are done every year, the exhibitors pay fees, but there is nothing to show for it. All we know is at the end of the show the committee shows up to count the money amongst themselves and disappear, the interim committee haven’t stopped looting.
“Some of the assets stolen include roofing sheets, quarry, and hosepipes among other things. Zimplats fenced the showground and part of the fence was damaged by a tree before last year’s show, but up to today it hasn’t been fixed. Why can they not simply maintain the showground than just milk the institution for their own benefit?”
Sanyati District Administrator (DA), Mr Amigo Mhlanga, called for an all stakeholders meeting to deliberate on the issues and challenges within the organisation and for stakeholders to chart a way forward, but the executive committee secured an interdict from the courts to prevent him from calling for the meeting.
Mr Francis Khondanani, DTZ board member who pushed for the meeting to commence even in the absence of the DA called for unity among stakeholders in order to bring sanity and development in the city.
“It is time for us to join hands and work towards developing our showground,” he said.
“This place is deplorable and we have tried to engage the current leadership so that we map our way forward but the leadership seem to be defensive as they have barred the DA from calling and chairing this meeting, however we need to work with people who cooperate and listen to the voices of the stakeholders.
“This is for the good of our community, our farmers need to exhibit and we can’t miss this year’s show because our facilities here are below standard yet the leadership collect gate takings every year.”
Mashonaland West Provincial chairman for Business against Crime Forum of Zimbabwe, Mr Prosper Mtongerwa said there was need to investigate and fight corruption and other criminal acts within the administration.
“The purpose of taking a remedial action to infrastructure that has crumbled year in year out due to among other reasons poor administration by the responsible authorities,” he said.
“The whole infrastructure requires total refurbishment as a matter of emergency and there is also need to take into account all acts of misconduct and ensure that culprits are brought to book as we fight corruption and work towards vision 2030.”
Kadoma Show Society chairman Mr Tobias Chodeva could not be contacted for comment.