The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF youths in Matabeleland South Province are up in arms with Cde Sdojiwe Sigola, the council chairman for Umzingwane District, whom they accuse of stealing fuel that was allocated to them for the 21st February Movement celebrations that were held in Victoria Falls last month. Cde Sigola, however, denies the allegations levelled against him.
According to members of the Youth League in Gwanda, they were allocated 240 litres of fuel that was supposed to cater for travelling to the celebrations and other activities.
“We were given 240 litres of fuel and we were supposed to also use it to travel to Victoria Falls but to our surprise Cde Sigola took our fuel and used it without our consent yet the fuel was not meant for his district,” said one member.
It is alleged that Cde Sigola was supposed to fuel a vehicle that was meant to transport youths from Umzingwane.
“We do not know who he ferried to the celebrations. He bussed some people to Bulawayo and we do not know who he took there. It seems he had a mission,” said a youth league member.
Cde Lizwe Moyo, the vice-chairman for the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Youth League, told the Sunday News that indeed the fuel had gone missing.
“The executive had 240 litres of fuel in Umzingwane District. One of our comrades died and had to be buried in Murehwa and we use that fuel for instances like these. We also intended to go for the 21st February Movement celebrations. We were surprised when we heard there was no fuel as it had been taken by Cde Sigola,” he said.
He said the fuel was kept at the Central Intelligence Organisation offices in Umzingwane where they were informed that it had been taken by Cde Sigola.
Cde Sigola, however, described the allegations as lies.
“Those are lies, that I converted the fuel to my own use. We filled a bus that ferried people to the train station that were going to Victoria Falls and it was 40 litres. We used another 40 litres to collect them when they arrived,” he said.
Cde Sigola said he used another 65 litres in a small vehicle that he used to go to Victoria Falls for the celebrations giving a total of 145 litres. He said he did not use the remainder of the fuel.
“What bothers us is that we may be called to answer for the disappearance of that fuel as we were responsible for it. Again it is not clear where the remainder is and if the fuel was used for its intended purpose,” said one member.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Youth chairman Cde Washington Nkomo said he was aware of the situation and was going to deal with the issue.
“I am aware of the issue of the missing 240 litres of fuel. People are not sure of how the fuel was used as it is not clear where the remainder of the fuel is. But we are going to have a meeting soon and try and trace how the fuel was used,” he said.
