Headmen accuse chieftainess of exploitation

Headmen accuse chieftainess of exploitation
By James Ndhlovu in Mazabuka
Monday August 25, 2008 [04:00]

VILLAGE headmen in Mwanamangala area of chieftainess Mwenda in Mazabuka have accused their traditional ruler of exploiting them through the charge of charcoal levies. The headmen who protested at the forestry department and district commissioner's offices told ZANIS in Mazabuka on Saturday that chieftainess Mwenda had been impounding charcoal and collecting levies from villagers.

The four headmen who identified themselves as Choombe, Kasamba, Hajaalika and Chuuka said their traditional leader was charging the villagers a license fee of K150,000 and those found with charcoal illegally were fined K50,000 and had their charcoal confiscated.

But district forestry officer, Mwenda Singongi told the headmen that the traditional leaders had no mandate to collect levy and issue licenses for charcoal or any other forestry products.

Singongi explained that under the forestry Act, the forestry department was mandated to issue licences and charge levies on forestry products.

Singongi said there was need for villagers to be sensitised on how to deal with issues of levies and licences of forestry products.