Chief Dandawa, born Try Manyepa has been accused of illegally settling residents in a private Conservancy in Hurungwe thereby disrupting an ongoing Government river rehabilitation project.

Rengwe Conservancy has been carrying out rehabilitation work on the Sanyati River as a prototype project for the government.

However, it has faced problems from illegal miners and illegal settlers who have invaded the Conservancy

It has since emerged that most of them are allegedly Chief Dandawa’s subjects.

Details of the illegal activity came to light during the trial of 6 arrested villagers arrested in Rengwe Conservancy.

Five of them have since been sentenced to 2 years in prison after being found guilty of trespassing, illegal gold panning and poaching within the Conservancy.

The remaining person is yet to be sentenced.

It is alleged that Chief Dandawa allocated portions of Rengwe Conservancy to individuals for occupation.

This is despite the land allegedly not being lawfully available for such allocation.

The persons prosecuted reportedly stated in their defence that they entered and occupied the land because they had been given permission by the Chief.

Some of the persons allegedly authorised to occupy the land have been accused of prospecting for gold without the requisite permits or licences.

Rengwe offiicals have since called for an investigation into the conduct of Chief Dandawa.

“The possibility that traditional authority may have been used to facilitate illegal mining activities should therefore be investigated.

They allege that the case of the arrested 6 isn’t the first one.

Of further significance is the existence of a separate and ongoing investigation under ZRP Magunje CR 35/03/26, involving Kuwirirana Nemagwede, in relation to an alleged invasion of land.

“The existence of this separate investigation is relevant because it may indicate that the alleged unlawful occupation of land in the Rengwe area is not an isolated incident,” they said.

Chief Dandawa isn’t new to controversy and 2 year ago was involved in a fight for control over the Nyamakate area with Chief Chundu.

Despite losing the initial case he filed an appeal against the ruling by the Kariba Magistrate Court that favored his rival, Chief Chundu, born Abel Mbasera.

He argued that the judgment not only misinterpreted the law but also lacked sufficient evidence to establish Chief Chundu’s jurisdiction over Nyamakate.