State Media|CHINESE consortium seeking to invest in Tsholotsho has reportedly been barred from doing so, with allegations that some councillors have been demanding bribes from them to be allocated land to erect a sawmill in the district.
The Chinese, according to sources, were told to pay a bribe of between US$25 000 and US$27 000 if they wanted to setup in the Matabeleland North district.
“We were happy to learn that there was an investment coming to Tsholotsho. Ultimately this spelt development and job creation. However, after sometime we were aggrieved to learn that the development had failed to materialise, as some councillors had demanded bribes from the Chinese. The Chinese on hearing this left for Lupane where we are told they would be setting up,” said a source who requested anonymity.
Sunday News sought a comment from the said Chinese investors, who refused to talk about the issue.
“I am sorry. I don’t know what you are talking about. I would rather not talk about that,” said one of the Chinese nationals before hanging up.
Tsholotsho Rural District chairperson Councillor Esau Siwela, however, said there was no such issue, pointing out that the RDC had met the Chinese and a set of rules and procedures had been drawn and made known to them.
“It’s all just a rumour. Indeed there are Chinese people who are seeking to invest in the district. They applied to set up a sawmill and as council, we informed them on what was needed to be done. This was all done in black and white. It is a pity that they were impatient and decided to leave before undertaking most of the procedures. We informed them that a sawmill had high levels of pollution and it was prudent for them to set up in an area that was not close to residential areas. We took them to a place in Ward 13, where we had proposed and allocated them a 40 000 square metre area. In doing all this we called all departments and interested stakeholders to interview them on the proposed investment.
“They agreed to the proposal and were asked to pay a full year’s lease. They would be paying US20c per square metre, which would add up to US$8 000 a year. They were then advised to get a prospectus from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which cost $200. From there they disappeared. Then we heard they popped up in Lupane. I then got in touch with my fellow colleagues in Lupane who informed me that they were prospecting and buying timber. But they were not really certain what they were doing there.”
Meanwhile, the RDC has resolved to suspend its executive officer-in-charge of Natural Resources— Mr Simelisizwe Sibanda, who is under investigation for alleged criminal abuse of office charges. RDC chairperson, Councillor Siwela, confirmed that the council had resolved to suspend Mr Sibanda during a meeting that was held last Thursday. He said a letter had been written to the chief executive officer on the matter and he would in his capacity serve Mr Sibanda with the letter of suspension when he returns from leave.
“He will therefore be called to a disciplinary hearing, after he is served with the letter,” said Clr Siwela.