The Financial Gazette

Staff Reporter

 

GOVERNMENT ministers from both ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) parties are among parliamentarians who failed to account for Constituency Development Funds (CDF) allocated to them from Treasury, raising questions of potential abuse that could embarrass fiscal authorities who had lobbied for the fund's introduction. The Financial Gazette was this week shown a register of defaulting parliamentarians. Among them is the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo; Mines Minister, Obert Mpofu; and Information Communication Technology Minis-ter, Nelson Chamisa.
The register indicates that only 107 parliamentarians have accounted for the funds, with just over 100 others failing to do so.
Several ministers and lawmakers confirmed in interviews that they were yet to submit their returns.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Ministers Stan Mudenge, Elton Man-goma, Webster Shamu, Giles Muts-ekwa and Olivia Muchena are among a handful of top officials who have so far accounted for funds allocated to them.
Nearly 100 other lawmakers now face legal action if they fail to account by month-end, according to Const-itutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga.
Matinenga first issued a March 31 ultimatum for lawmakers to submit their returns, which was followed over the weekend by the threat of legal action if the non-compliance continues.
The minister said there were chances a number of legislators had abused the funds.
Other ministers or deputy ministers that have failed to account for the funds include Youth Develop-ment Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere and Public Works Minister Joel Gabuzza-Gabuza; deputy Ministers Murisi Zwizwai, Tongai Matutu, Lazarus Dokora and Jessie Majome.
Outspoken independent legislator, Jonathan Moyo, now a member of ZANU-PF, and Edward Chindori -Chininga, have also not complied.
"It is as surprising as it is disappointing that some members are still refusing to account for development funds government extended to them... We wish to advise them that they have up to the end of this month (to comply) before we institute legal action against them," Matinenga told The Financial Gazette.
Contacted for comment over     the issue, Chombo said it was unrealistic to give a single deadline for all constituencies, adding that in his rural constituency one had to first consult chiefs, headmen and villagers.
Chombo further said he was not aware of any deadline to submit returns, adding that conditions should have been first set when lawmakers were receiving the money.
"You can't say everyone should submit on Monday. Kunenge kwavakutotumbura ura sehuku (it's vindictive)," said Chombo.
Chamisa said he had not yet started disbursing funds in his Kuwadzana constituency as he needed people's input. The MDC-T national organising secretary indicated however, that he would meet the requirement.
"I am not spending the money for my clan. It is for the people of Kuwadzana and they are happy. We were consulting and we will comply," said Chamisa.
Majome said she would submit her returns in due course when "bookkeepers have finished their work".
Matutu said he had complied last week after "the heroes' holidays."
He added that he was not aware of any deadline that had been set in terms of the funds.
Chindori-Chininga said he was among the last ones to get the funds and stressed that he supports the arrest of any legislator who abused the funds.
"We were the last ones to get the money. There is nothing complicated and I don't understand the farce. "Let's not dirty everyone because of politics. If there is anyone who abused the money, he must be arrested," said Chindori-Chininga.
Mpofu could not be reached for comment.
Zwizwai said he was still utilising the funds but would account for his allocation by month end.
"The beauty of my constituency (Harare Central) is that everything is done by Real Time Gross Settlement system," said Zwizwai.
Matinenga had initially set the deadline for March 31, 2011 but extended it after Members of Parliament failed to comply.
He had told beneficiary parliamentarians then: "Therefore submissions of 2010 year end returns are due by 31 March 2011 latest. Let me take this opportunity to appeal to all Honorable members to ensure compliance with this deadline as Treasury maybe obliged to withhold release of 2011."
"Circular number 1 and subsequent circular number 11 of 2011 signed by the accounting officer were sent to Members of Parliament through Parliament of Zimbabwe. The formats were attached for easy reference. Reports should reach head office on or before 25/03/2011."
Matinenga said monitoring and evaluation of books of accounts and project implementation for the CDF would be done by his ministry as well as the offices of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Accountant General.
On June 13, the minister told Parliament that in disbursing the CDF this year, government would not  make any allocations to defaulting legislators.
"But let me say at this juncture that unlike last year when we disbursed money to every constituency, it is going to be different this year because not everybody who got money last year has properly accounted for it. So, what is going to happen this year is that if you have not submitted your returns for the disbursement for 2010, then you cannot expect us to be throwing good money after bad," Matinenga said.