A tea director from Nyansiongo factory is under immense pressure and could lose her seat following accusations of bribery to compromise the construction of the proposed new factory at Matunwa in Gesima.
Mrs Rachael Orina of Bogetutu branch is accused by farmers from Bosamaru branch of manipulating the original decision of the management to relocate the construction of the new plant from Bosamaro to Matunwa in Bogetutu.
Speaking on Wednesday during the official presentation of the petition, hundreds of farmers gathered at Nyansiongo called for immediate resignation of the director.
“As people from Bosamaro, we are really shocked and disgusted with the director. We have evidence that she compromised the committee that was in charge of the feasibility study,” said Mr Peter Nyaribo.
They accused the management of Nyansiongo Tea Factory of condoning the embattled director and warned any move to defend her when the petition is brought for public voting.
“We know the procedure and we have cited the grounds under which we want her out. The allegations should be brought to farmers to make an eventual decision on her fate through voting,” added Mrs Marion Onyinkwa.
However, Ms Orina, who spoke to HiviSasa.com, dismissed the claims as ‘cheap propaganda meant to tarnish her credibility' and vowed to ‘correct’ the matter in court.
If the petition is allowed, it might yet again spur controversy between tea farmers from Bosamaro and Bogetutu over the decision to set a new branch at Matunwa in Bogetutu region.