Daggers out over US$1.2m Chiadzwa windfall

account, which has since been done,” said Honourable Marange.

On the use of the fund, Honourable Marange said since their region was semiarid, they should prioritise drilling boreholes, construction of small dams, clinics, classroom blocks and acquire an ambulance that will be stationed at Marange Rural Heath Centre to ferry critically ill patients to Mutare.

Dr Mukwada vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and accused the legislator of imposing himself on the Trust.

He accused Honourable Marange of trying to monopolise the fund in his Mutare West Constituency, while ignoring developmental needs and aspirations of Mutare North and two wards recently annexed to Makoni South. The two wards are under Chief Marange. Dr Mukwada further said Honourable Marange has developed a tendency of name dropping to impose himself on the Trust and silence other trustees. He said the US$1.2 million fund is secure as it will not be deposited directly into the Trust’s bank account.

“We made a board resolution (to change the bank) and there are dully signed minutes. It is not true that I am the sole signatory of the account. Kindly reach out to the bank for verification. Kindly get in touch with the chairman of the Trust, who is Chief Marange, and the ZCDC for verification.

“All the projects, according to Government policy, are administered by ZCDC using their relevant departments. I do not run the ZCDC procurement department. These are all lies being levelled against me by (MP) Nyasha Marange who has been trying to monopolise the community dividend and use it to develop his constituency only when in actual fact it should benefit three constituencies straddling across the Marange area.

“He is trying to push out those from Mutare North and Makoni South. He even tried to impose himself as the Trust’s organising secretary; a post which does not exist. He demanded that if we do not incorporate him on the Trust deed, he will not represent our developmental needs to the highest offices.

“He said if he is not made a signatory to the bank account, he will not push for the release of the funds. The funds are secure from any possible interference or hijacking, and they will be used all-inclusively. The dividend is for community-driven development and empowerment projects throughout the Marange area, including communities relocated to ARDA Transau,” said Dr Mukwada.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, on Wednesday called the warring groups to order. He urged them to close ranks and work in harmony for the benefit of grassroots communities.

Minister Mugadza also applauded ZCDC for ploughing back to the community and implored other businesses operating in the province to emulate the example set by the mining concern.

“Unfortunately, you are the first to brief me on their squabbles. What I know is that they have been trying to secure a meeting with me, and I am now sure that is what they wanted to discuss with me. I am waiting for them to fix an urgent appointment with me so that we iron out those differences. We do not condone factions. They should be united and work for the good of everyone. They should bury the hatchet and work as one unit for the sake of development.

“We expect the US$1.2 million to benefit the entirety of Marange area with sustainable community projects. The money must be invested in health, education and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects of common interest to the communities.

“We expect other companies to follow what ZCDC has done and plough back to communities they operate in. This issue has been on our lips for a very long time, but with very little cooperation. It is time we became serious about it and we expect them to contribute whatever they can,” said Minister Mugadza.

Efforts to get a comment from ZCDC’s spokesperson, Mr Shuga Chagonda, were fruitless as he was said to be in a series of meetings.

Mr Chagonda had promised to get back to us, but had not done so at the time of going to print. The chairman of the Trust, Chief Marange was also not available for a comment.