Parks authority reinstates Chadenga

Herald Reporter
THE National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority board has reinstated Mr Vitalis Chadenga, its director of operations, who it had suspended over allegations of misconduct.

Mr Chadenga, who has been on forced leave since August last year after the board suspended him and levelled four charges against him, resumed his duties on Monday.

The board found Mr Chadenga guilty in respect of three of the four counts that he was charged with, but decided to reinstate him after investigations indicated that he did not receive any financial benefit from the perceived acts of misconduct he was accused of.

Acting board chairman Mr George Pangeti said the board took into account mitigating factors, in particular that Mr Chadenga has not been charged with any act of misconduct for the seven years he has been employed in the organisation.

There were, however, attempts to demote Mr Chadenga to a less influential position of project manager reporting to the director general.

Although Mr Chadenga has already resumed his duties with the authority, The Herald understands that he accepted his reinstatement without prejudice, and has also written to the authority requesting payment for the period he was on suspension.

"I am taking up the appointment . . . but without prejudice. You will appreciate that I consider myself innocent and will pursue the option of conciliation in terms of the Labour Act.

"In the meantime, I undertake to discharge my new duties to the best of my ability," said Mr Chadenga in accepting his reinstatement.

Mr Pangeti said there was no indication that Mr Chadenga had received any financial benefit from the acts of misconduct.

"You did not cause any financial prejudice to the authority, your case received unwarranted publicity in the media, you appeared to be contrite about your failure to consult with your superior especially on the issue of the Tengwe Estate permit.

". . . and you have generally shown an interest in the development and advancement of the authority," said Mr Pangeti, who replaced Ambassador Buzwani Mothobi as chairman, in a letter to Mr Chadenga.

It was, however, noted against Mr Chadenga that he knowingly usurped the functions of the director of finance and administration when he illegally authorised hunts in the Zambezi Valley by one Mr Coetzee without a permit.

As a result of that, said Mr Pangeti, Mr Coetzee’s clients ended up hunting on some camps that were not paid for and on wrong dates.

Allegations against Mr Chadenga in respect of the first count were that he obtained foreign currency to the tune of US$534 and 776 rand for a trip to South Africa, which he knew had been cancelled and failed to acquit it within a reasonable period.

A magistrate’s court freed Mr Chadenga last month after the State failed to provide a trial date, resulting in the court removing him from remand.

He was also alleged to have caused the illegal capture and translocation of three sables, two females and one bull, from Nyamaneche Game Sanctuary without following proper procedures. The disciplinary committee also cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The third count related to his authorisation of Mr Coetzee to hunt certain known animals in the Zambezi Valley wildlife estate without a hunting permit and before the payment by him for the hunts concerned.

This was despite the fact that the director of finance and administration, Mr Thomas Meki, had advised Mr Chadenga that Mr Coetzee had not paid for the relevant camps and thus he was accused of failing to protect the interests of the authority.

The final count related to his alleged overruling of a legitimate permit that had been issued to Hurungwe District Council to capture and translocate animals from Tengwe Estates in favour of one Mr Kockott.

Mr Kockott was the previous owner of the estate although the estate had been acquired for resettlement under the land reform programme.

As long as you don't make any money on it, crime is not crime!

Crime may not pay, but it doesn't seem to hurt either.

I guess the didn't check under the mattress for the cash (IMO).