Terrence Mawawa | Masvingo |Controversial Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa has clashed with Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri over the invasion of white-owned wildlife conservancies in the Save Valley.
Mahofa is trying to push Muchinguri to designate the wildlife conservancies to Zanu PF functionaries.Two months ago Mahofa openly contradicted her boss President Robert Mugabe over the Tongaat land grab programme. The outspoken state minister directly sanctioned the controversial land invasion programme two months ago. In comments likely to spark a racial outcry, ZimEye can reveal Mahofa told Muchinguri in a closed door meeting held in Chiredzi last week, party supporters were not happy with the occupation of wildlife conservancies by the whites at the expense of the ruling party supporters.
“We are not happy because all conservancies are in the hands of white people. Thousands of hectares are in the hands of white people while black people -mainly our supporters are not getting anything.We want our people to run these conservancies,” said Mahofa.
However, Muchinguri openly contradicted Mahofa and accused the latter of rampant greed and corruption. She accused Mahofa of inciting party supporters to grab the conservancies. “People have the wrong impression that there are many conservancies. Some people are shouting on top of their voices but we will not tolerate the invasion of wildlife conservancies. I will make sure that will not happen.I know there are politicians who want to grab the wildlife conservancies in the Save Valley. The people who want to take over the conservancies have failed to utilise the farms they grabbed a few years ago.Therefore we will make sure it will not happen again,” said Muchinguri. Party sources told ZimEye.com both politicians have interests in the Save Valley Conservancies and Muchinguri is wary of Mahofa’s influence in the province.