28 Jan 2020

A task force has been set to investigate Mababe Zokotshama Development Trust over issues of poor governance and maladministration.

The financially crippled trust is reported to be marred with issues of maladministration including mismanagement of funds despite guidance from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

The task forced was reported to be set following a visit by some members of the trust to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism to present their concerns.

In an interview, the vice chairperson of the board of trustees, Mr Mmoloki Ditirwa confirmed that they had received the news about the task force which would investigating the trust.

In addition, he said they had been requested to submit the minutes of the recent meeting.

He stated that it was true that the trust was not in good health as some members of the trust and the community had misunderstandings.

The issue, he said aroused during their annual general meeting held on the January 17 as members of the trust disagreed on some issues which resulted in some accusing others for carrying out operations without consultation with others.

Narrating the cause of the misunderstanding, he revealed that some members of the village leadership wanted to allow one of the investors to practice hunting in one of the trust concession without the community’s consent.

Mr Ditirwa revealed that reports indicated that the said investor was related to those who supported him hence members of the community rejected the decision.

Since the majority of the residents including some members of the board were against the decision, he said TAC advised the meeting to vote over the issue and 57 members of the community defeated the 11 who supported the decision.

Those defeated, he said did not accept the results and insisted that the board be dissolved arguing that it had failed the community and the majority of the residents were also against that.

Later, he said they learnt that some people had approached the ministry seeking  intervention.

On other issues, Mr Ditirwa admitted that the trust was financially crippled stating that when they took over the management of trust nine months back, they found the trust in debts which resulted in 17 staff members being retrenched.

The trust, he said also owed Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) over P3 million for failing to submit returns while staff was owed salaries worth over million.

He said they wrote government requesting a waiver over the BURS debt and the government acceded to their plea. With regard to staff salaries, he pointed out that efforts had been made to pay them their dues.Mr Ditirwa is optimistic that since hunting has been reinstated, the trust would be able to make better profits and pay the outstanding balance. ENDS