Maravi

(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Neighbour from hell

Neighbour from hell
Sunday, 21 October 2012 00:19
Emilia Zindi recently in Mola, Siyakobvu

Villagers of Siyakobvu in Mashonaland West are living in fear of a safari operator who allegedly instructs his workers to assault any­one they see near his premises.

In what appears to be a growing trend of safari operators refusing to accept the Govern­ment’s indigenisation programme, a Mr Steve Edwards, who runs Musango Safari Camp, has vowed to raze his lodges if forced to get into partnerships with locals. He is also accused of encroaching onto the territories of local chiefs.

One of the local leaders, Chief Mola, spoke of how the people in his area are living in fear of Mr Edwards and his workers.

He alleged that several people, accused of illegally fishing in what Mr Edwards calls his territory along the Zambezi River, have had their equipment that include fishing rods, axes, or hoes confiscated by Mr Edwards’ workers.

“We are living in fear of this Edwards who has continued to attack my people and yet he is the one encroaching onto my area,” said Chief Mola.

He added that efforts to have the dispute resolved through the local authority, Nyami Nyami Rural District Council, have not yielded results. The council’s chief executive offi­cer, Mr Daniel McKenzie, disclosed that a meeting meant to resolve the dispute with Mr Edwards ended acrimoniously.

“He threatened to burn down the chalets on the island where he runs lodges if anyone tried to force him to partner with locals under the indigenisation and empowerment pro­gramme,” said Mr McKenzie.
A visit to the lodges situated on an island revealed a heaven-on-earth set-up, with chalets neatly tucked in the bushes. Visitors to that island are ferried by speed boats, in sharp con­trast to Mr Edwards’ workers who have to use home-made canoes. Although Mr Edwards was not present, one of his tour guides who preferred to be called Mr Adams disclosed that the safari had lots of wildlife and attracts visi­tors from Europe and the United States of America.

“They book from their respective countries and do the payments there before coming to Zimbabwe. They also inform us of the means of transport they will be using to this island so that we ferry them to the island, which is only accessed by means of our speed boat,’’ said Mr Adams.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Edwards were fruitless as he was unreachable on mobile phone.

Mr Adams refused to comment on the dis­putes with chiefs, saying it was only Mr Edwards who could do so. Some workers spoken to said they were also being unfairly treated by their employer who has refused to make them permanent workers despite having worked for him for more than 10 years.

“All he does is to make us renew our one-year contracts. The contract forms he makes us sign are different from those of the rest of the indus­try as he produces his own. He knows we can­not report anywhere as we live on an island where visitors only come on appointment as they have to be fetched by his speed boats,’’ said one of the workers who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

Mr Adams, however, denied this news crew access to the workers’ compound where a health hazard is reportedly looming as the employees live in deplorable conditions. The workers alleged that the refusal was a ploy to hide the squalid conditions they live under.

Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), RHODESIANS, TOURISM, WILDLIFE

posted by MrK @ 5:49 AM