News / National
Tensions rise in Matebeleland North
08 Jun 2025 at 12:03hrs | Views
Tensions are escalating within Matebeleland North's lucrative safari hunting sector amid allegations that the Forestry Commission has been leasing prime state-owned properties through backdoor deals favoring white operators.
Several stakeholders have accused the commission's board of conducting a flawed and biased leasing process that excludes local players. Central to the controversy is the Ngamo Safari Area, a coveted 8,000-square-kilometre indigenous forest and one of Zimbabwe's most sought-after hunting concessions, which was allegedly leased to Richard Cook Safaris without a public tender.
Last month, the Forestry Commission also advertised Kazuma Lodge for lease. However, sources allege that the initial tender process was reopened after it supposedly failed to "favor" certain interests. The lease was ultimately awarded to Classic Tourism, reportedly owned by a white operator. Additionally, the commission has published an advert for the lease of Ganda Lodge, located near the proposed Gwayi/Shangani Dam site.
An industry insider questioned the Forestry Commission's commitment to empowering local stakeholders. "If the commission has failed to effectively manage these assets, why not prioritise its own employees or capable local stakeholders who are invested in the success of these properties?" the operator asked.
Shepherd Katsidzira, an indigenous professional hunter and outfitter, expressed frustration over what he called a lack of transparency. "I wanted to bid for the area because I believe we all deserved a fair chance to participate in the tender process, but everything was done under the carpet, with certain individuals already earmarked to take over," Katsidzira said.
Washington Molife Mnkandla, organising secretary for the Tourism and Conservation Workers Union of Zimbabwe, voiced concern over the leasing of public entities to private operators. "These moves often prioritise profit over public service and can result in job losses, reduced transparency, and diminished accountability," Mnkandla warned.
Other sources within the Forestry Commission allege collusion between top management and board members for personal gain at the expense of public interest. "The Forestry Commission is the biggest landlord in Zimbabwe and is being destroyed from within through deliberate collusion between board members and management," one insider revealed. "Certain senior officials are involved in these deals that disenfranchise workers. If these decisions were made in good faith, why would they compromise their own positions?"
Forestry Commission chairman Mahomed Jassat, however, denied any irregularities, stating that no new leases have been issued outside established governance procedures. "Richard Cooke Safaris is the existing leaseholder, with a longstanding agreement predating the current board," Jassat explained.
He added that the commission has been conducting a comprehensive review of all legacy leases, many of which were severely underpriced. "As part of this reform, and with full board and management approval, we renegotiated an exclusive marketing agreement with Richard Cooke Safaris," Jassat said. "This resulted in a 600% increase in revenue, advance payments covering two years, and over US$2 million generated this year alone."
Jassat further noted that the leaseholder has committed to anti-poaching, fire prevention, and other conservation efforts - areas that previously drained commission resources. "Overall, lease revenues have increased by over 800%, employee salaries have been stabilised, and the commission has moved from vulnerability toward sustainability since these reforms began," he said.
He dismissed allegations of irregularity as "largely being propagated by disgruntled former employees and beneficiaries of the old system."
As tensions simmer, stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and fairer participation to ensure the sector's sustainability and empowerment of local operators. The saga underscores broader challenges in managing Zimbabwe's valuable natural assets for the benefit of all.
Several stakeholders have accused the commission's board of conducting a flawed and biased leasing process that excludes local players. Central to the controversy is the Ngamo Safari Area, a coveted 8,000-square-kilometre indigenous forest and one of Zimbabwe's most sought-after hunting concessions, which was allegedly leased to Richard Cook Safaris without a public tender.
Last month, the Forestry Commission also advertised Kazuma Lodge for lease. However, sources allege that the initial tender process was reopened after it supposedly failed to "favor" certain interests. The lease was ultimately awarded to Classic Tourism, reportedly owned by a white operator. Additionally, the commission has published an advert for the lease of Ganda Lodge, located near the proposed Gwayi/Shangani Dam site.
An industry insider questioned the Forestry Commission's commitment to empowering local stakeholders. "If the commission has failed to effectively manage these assets, why not prioritise its own employees or capable local stakeholders who are invested in the success of these properties?" the operator asked.
Shepherd Katsidzira, an indigenous professional hunter and outfitter, expressed frustration over what he called a lack of transparency. "I wanted to bid for the area because I believe we all deserved a fair chance to participate in the tender process, but everything was done under the carpet, with certain individuals already earmarked to take over," Katsidzira said.
Washington Molife Mnkandla, organising secretary for the Tourism and Conservation Workers Union of Zimbabwe, voiced concern over the leasing of public entities to private operators. "These moves often prioritise profit over public service and can result in job losses, reduced transparency, and diminished accountability," Mnkandla warned.
Other sources within the Forestry Commission allege collusion between top management and board members for personal gain at the expense of public interest. "The Forestry Commission is the biggest landlord in Zimbabwe and is being destroyed from within through deliberate collusion between board members and management," one insider revealed. "Certain senior officials are involved in these deals that disenfranchise workers. If these decisions were made in good faith, why would they compromise their own positions?"
Forestry Commission chairman Mahomed Jassat, however, denied any irregularities, stating that no new leases have been issued outside established governance procedures. "Richard Cooke Safaris is the existing leaseholder, with a longstanding agreement predating the current board," Jassat explained.
He added that the commission has been conducting a comprehensive review of all legacy leases, many of which were severely underpriced. "As part of this reform, and with full board and management approval, we renegotiated an exclusive marketing agreement with Richard Cooke Safaris," Jassat said. "This resulted in a 600% increase in revenue, advance payments covering two years, and over US$2 million generated this year alone."
Jassat further noted that the leaseholder has committed to anti-poaching, fire prevention, and other conservation efforts - areas that previously drained commission resources. "Overall, lease revenues have increased by over 800%, employee salaries have been stabilised, and the commission has moved from vulnerability toward sustainability since these reforms began," he said.
He dismissed allegations of irregularity as "largely being propagated by disgruntled former employees and beneficiaries of the old system."
As tensions simmer, stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and fairer participation to ensure the sector's sustainability and empowerment of local operators. The saga underscores broader challenges in managing Zimbabwe's valuable natural assets for the benefit of all.
Source - The Standard
