Zambezi Valley monsters
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk


Wednesday, 22 April 2009
EDITOR - The National Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA),
known as the Zambezi Valley Monsters among the local communities, has become
increasingly unpopular among the valley communities especially in the past
ten years.
NPWMA is to blame for this unhealthy situation in the valley in three
ways.
Firstly the increasing population of marauding elephants has, in the
past ten years, exposed villagers to massive starvation. Even in years when
communities expect bumper harvests, elephants came and grazed from the
fields.
Secondly, elephants have been killing five people on average annually,
for 10 years, among the valley communities and NPWMA doesn't care. The
Zambezi valley communities continue to bear the brunt of these elephants
while the NPWMA boasts of huge benefits from the same animals.
Thirdly, the Zambezi Valley communities have been exposed to
unscrupulous and rogue NPWMA officials who have been milking and exorcising
the valley communities. The Zambezi Valley Watch, (a network formed in
January 2009 to monitor and document all dirty activities of NPWMA officials
in the Zambezi Valley) recently witnessed the highest levels of madness by
the NPWMA officials.
These events are: the dubious inspection of Kapenta Fishing
Cooperatives boats by NPWMA officials in Binga, the ransacking and looting
of fishing camps in Binga, and the barbaric & dehumanising colonial-like
sijamboking of villagers, for no apparent cause, under Chief Sinamunsanga in
Tyunga area, Binga.
The dubious inspection of Kapenta Fishing Cooperatives boats, ordered
by the Area Manager, Payipayi, was one of the most barbaric ways of
fundraising. The NPWMA officials pounced on the unsuspecting Kapenta
Fishermen at night from March 17-20, 2009 and demanded to inspect the
fitness of their boats. The officials were charged exorbitant fines for
small and baseless offences. Where on earth would this be tolerated except
in Zimbabwe?
Payipayi also ordered the looting of Fishing Camps and confiscation of
gillnet fishing canoes from several fishing camps dotted between Binga town
and Mlibizi. These fishing camps are Siakabenge, Tobwe, Simatelele, Malala,
Bbimbi, Siamambo and Mlibizi.
The NPWMA officials accused the fishermen of fishing without permits.
They tortured them by beating them while hanging them upside down and forced
their way into the fishermen's mud & dagga huts destroying doors, ransacking
the huts and looting whatever they could find.
NPWMA officials went to the Fishermen's harbours and confiscated all
canoes belonging to the fishermen. All the loot was taken to Binga NPWMA
Office. Fishermen were told to pay a heavy fine of US$60 for each canoe or
pay three goats per canoe to recover them. Failure to pay for the canoes
would empower NPWMA to auction them. Why should the fishermen pay to recover
their stolen canoes?
Surely, the government should do something about the way the NPWMA
officials are tormenting the Zambezi Valley communities? We hoped that after
the formation of the inclusive government this exploitation, harassment, and
abuse by the NPWMA officials would cease but alas. Oh! No! NPWMA head
office should investigate these acts of madness and severely deal with those
responsible.
The third incident took place in Chief Sinamunsanga's chiefdom from
March 15-20, 2009. The NPWMA officials descended on the villagers, accusing
them of fishing using fishing rods without permits. The officials ordered
scores of men and women to lie down on their stomachs and sjamboked them on
their buttocks not only in public but also in full view of their children.
What complicates this case is that the NPWMA officials did not catch these
villagers fishing, they were found at their homes and some were even
drinking beer.
The three incidents are just the tip of the ice-berg. The Zambezi
Valley communities have been subjected to even worse treatment by NPWMA
officials but the lawlessness in the country that reigned since 2000 has
been making it difficult for these communities to raise their voices to the
relevant authorities. Who would listen to them anyway? The NPWMA officials
are known to be the most brutal people in the valley because of the way they
abuse their powers. In fact when the economic melt down was at its peak the
NPWMA officials survived mainly on looting fishermen and villagers, accusing
them of various baseless offences.
The Zambezi Valley communities particularly in Nyaminyami, Kariba and
Binga districts are bearing the brunt of NPWMA mismanagement. It should be
remembered that the valley communities were forcibly displaced by the
construction of the Kariba Dam in the 1950s. They were not compensated for
this traumatic forced displacement whose effects are still visible among
them even today.
Please NPWMA officials give us a break; we need to feel part of
Zimbabwe. We want to work together with NPWMA to protect our natural
resources but it is impossible under these circumstances. The government
should come to our rescue, we have heard enough. - ZAMBEZI VALLEY WATCH, by
e-mail