Daggers out over US$1.2m Chiadzwa windfall
TWO antagonistic groups are engaged in serious mudslinging and infighting in a bid to control the US$1.2 million dividend recently allocated to Chiadzwa Community Share Ownership Trust (CCSOT) by a diamond mining company in the area.
The US$1.2 million, which is meant to spearhead community development of the Marange area, was availed to the Trust by Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).
ZCDC is a Government-owned entity that extracts diamonds at Chiadzwa, and the kitty is meant to finance life-changing projects for villagers.
However, that objective risks being scuttled by bickering within the Trust as two rival groups are at each other’s throats to control the fund.
Member of House of Assembly for Mutare West, Honourable Nyasha Marange, is allegedly leading one of the groups, while the other is led by the Trust’s chief executive officer, Dr Hardwork Mukwada.
Dr Mukwada’s group allegedly includes Mr Solomon Marange and maverick businessman, Mr Newman Chiadzwa.
The group was conspicuous by its absence at a meeting called by the political and traditional leadership in Mutare West on Easter Monday. They boycotted the meeting, citing political interference and name dropping.
The other CCSOT executive members are Chief Marange (chairman), Headwoman Phillis Chiadzwa (vice-chairman), Headman Mutsago (treasurer), Mutare West MP, Honourable Nyasha Marange (organising secretary), Mr Chengetai Chanakira and Advocate Paidamoyo Madondo, who convened
the meeting.
The meeting was held at Chief Marange’s homestead, but the traditional leader himself was not in attendance, and instead assigned a proxy to represent him.
The trustees are haggling over how the funds should be handled and utilised.
Fears now abound that the fund risks being looted through procurement of over-priced goods and services.
Honourable Marange accuses Dr Mukwada of operating a ghost account with a local bank without the knowledge of other trustees, in which some funds were allegedly deposited by ZCDC.
He alleged that Dr Mukwada squandered the money.
The Mutare West legislator further alleged that Dr Mukwada engaged ZCDC to drill 20 boreholes at a cost of US$100 000 without the consent and knowledge of other trustees.
“There are some bad apples in the Chiadzwa Community Share Ownership Trust who want to benefit at the expense of the community. When I joined the Trust and was appointed organising secretary, I discovered that the Trust has another bank account with Ecobank which other trustees were not aware of. The only signatory to that account was Hardwork Mukwada and we have since rectified that.
“We have since resolved that ZCDC should keep the funds, and for every project we identify, the company will do the procurement on our behalf. Before we engaged ZCDC to stop depositing all funds into our account, Mukwada had already requested that 20 boreholes be drilled at a cost of US$100 000; an amount which we feel was inflated. More so, this was done without the knowledge and consent of other trustees.
“Again, from the funds meant for the administration costs of the trust, Mukwada withdrew US$15 000 without the knowledge of other members. We have since engaged the bank to have additional signatories to the
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