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The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) board has been dissolved following continued allegations of misconduct and financial impropriety.
A statement released by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate on February 22, said the dissolution of the board was due to “wayward conduct of some members of the board”. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Grace Mutandiro, commented: “The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Honourable O.C.Z Muchinguri-Kashiri, has, in terms of Section 6 of the 12th schedule of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act Number 19 of 2001, terminated the term of office of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Board with immediate effect.” Mutandiro says the “departure from playing an advisory role to that of usurping executive powers” was working against the good corporate governance principles that Government upholds.
Recent press reports suggested that an audit conducted by the Auditor-General’s office revealed that board members had been using parastatal funds for personal use, including US$17 000 spent on laptops and cellphones. Further to that, Chairperson Tichafa Mundangepfupfu allegedly granted himself a US$1 069.86 personal loan, just three months after his appointment. The report states that “this is contrary to Section 3.21 of Corporate Governance Framework for State Enterprises and Parastatals, which states that loans made either directly or indirectly to non-executive directors are prohibited unless the granting of loans is the core business of the entity and subject to the rules and procedures applicable to the granting of loans”.
There was no Director-General on the wildlife management body for a two-year period, between former DG Edison Chidziya’s departure in 2015, and the appointment of Fulton Upenyu Mangwanya on August 1, 2017. This gap is believed to have left the doors wide open for the board to involve themselves in the day-to-day operations of the institution.
“The government needs to take this tough stance on corruption, to show that there is a determined clean-up being actioned against those who would manipulate and misuse their positions of power. Parks and wildlife constitute one of the biggest income-generators for Zimbabwe, through tourism and investment, and foreign investment is at risk should investors see corrupt leadership not being dealt with harshly and swiftly,” says Dean Cherry, MD of Nhongo Safaris and Vice-Chairman of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) Gauteng Chapter.
Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive of Africa Albida Tourism, concurs saying that Zimbabwe’s national parks are one of its finest resources and assets, and the guardians appointed by government to look after them, need to do so. “Responsible and professional leadership is paramount in such matters, along with best practice policies, for long-term sustainability, as well as community and tourism benefits derived from a thriving healthy wildlife estate.”
For now, it’s business as usual, says Cherry. “The parks, vets, employees – all are continuing to care for the country’s precious, natural heritage. We look forward to seeing a strong, untainted board take leadership in due course.”
Source: tourismupdate.co.za