EMPLOYEES at Ngamo Safaris of Zimbabwe in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, are up in arms with their management over the alleged leasing of the company to a new investor without going to tender.
Ngamo Safaris was established by the Forestry Commission to generate revenue for conservation programmes in Zimbabwe’s indigenous forest areas.
The hunting area consists of 8 000 square kilometres of forest land.
Tourism and Conservation Workers Union of Zimbabwe representative Molise Mkandla told Southern Eye yesterday that more than 24 workers will be affected by the latest development.
“The Ngamo Safaris camp has been leased to a new investor called Richard Cook Safaris (RC) and workers woke up to be told to pack their belongings and vacate the place within a period of two weeks which is expiring this week,” he said.
“They had asked for a month so that they could make decisions, but that seems to have been rejected. They were told either to vacate the place or choose to sign new contracts under a fixed contract arrangement. The new investor was given a lease last month, but tender procedures were not followed. The new set up does not consider the plight of the workers.”
Mkandla said some of the workers had worked for the company for as long as 30 years and know no other employer.
“The move means that they will lose all their benefits in terms of pension, among others. We gather that Cook had given Forest Commission retrenchment funds which we are yet to establish the facts surrounding the whole move. The new investor said he was going to give workers nine months’ probation period and after that decide whether to engage them full-time or not,” he said.
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According to Mkandla, the Forestry Commission is in the process of leasing safari camps such as Kazuma, Masume and another third one with transfers having been smooth and due process followed.
“The Ngamo Safari camp is at the centre of controversy because due processes were not followed. However sources say some stakeholders are planning to go to court over the issue,” he said.
Forestry Commission business development and marketing manager Enock Mandura referred Southern Eye to their headquarters in Harare.
“I am in a meeting, maybe they are in a meeting that is why they are no picking calls,” he said.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo said he was not aware of the move.
“I will check with the Tsholotsho RDC to find out about the issue,” he said.
