The Financial Gazette

Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor

CONTROVERSY surrounding the disbursement of Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) took a new twist this week with three lawmakers - Jonathan Moyo, Lazarus Dokora and Nelson Chamisa - adding an interesting angle to the unfolding saga that might ultimately embarrass the three governing parties in Zimbabwe. Moyo and Dokora, ZANU-PF legislators for Tsholotsho and Rushinga respectively and Chamisa, the MDC-T Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East, came out with their guns blazing last week, denying any wrongdoing in the handling of the money.
The MPs were last week reported as among the 100 parliamentarians failing to account for the constituency funds allocated from the fiscus, amid fears that some of the legislators in the lower House might have abused the funds.
Each MP in the House of Assembly was entitled to US$50 000 out of a US$8 million budget set aside by the Ministry of Finance last year to bankroll developmental projects in their respective constituencies.
The lawmakers were given up to March 31, 2011 to account for the funds.
But Moyo this week scoffed at suggestions that he had accessed the funds, which he charged must not fall under the aegis of the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, which he said had no capacity to administer the fund.
The MP said he never accessed the funds, but only facilitated its withdrawal by the area's Senator, Believe Gaule of the MDC contrary to claims by Constitutional Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga that he had accessed his Tsholotsho constituency chunk of the CDF.
He said Gaule accessed the funds late and therefore cannot be expected to submit returns along with those who accessed the CDF early. Indeed, Matinenga had announced in March that Moyo was the only MP who had not accessed the funds. "Indeed, it is also a fact that the funds were released for Tsholotsho constituency until I think sometime in April. The factual question that arises then is how can the accounting of funds applied for in March and released only in April be said to be in default along with funds that were accessed some 18 months ago?" asked Moyo.
The political scientist said the fund should be housed under a developmental ministry such as that of Local Government.
On the other hand, Dokora said he has fully accounted for all the funds and claims to the contrary are not true.
Dokora, who is the Deputy Minister of Education, said the funds were used to carry out roofing at six schools in the constituency that include Muvhundudzi, Katakura and Kasenzi secondary schools.
He added that part of the money was also used for a beehive project that saw 10 youths from his constituency attending a three-week course at the Harare Polytechnic on beehive construction.
He added that 30 tonnes of cement were purchased for construction projects, among other things.
"We have accounted for all the money. We don't get the money ourselves, it is transferred (for the benefit of the communities)," said Dokora.
Independent verifications proved that indeed Dokora had complied with requirements governing the utilisation of the constituency funds.
Chamisa, this week said the CDF funds to his constituency were not disbursed efficaciously due to extenuating circumstances on the part of the source.
"Armed with the ethics and values that public resources must be used in consultation and in conformity with the demand of the community in an accountable and transparent manner, the office of the MP recommended a consultative process," he said.
"The office of the MP has been undertaking constituency-wide consultations with the church, business community, small to medium size enterprises, civic society, community-ba-sed organisations, sch-ools (SDAs) to sculpture priority areas so as to balance the competing interests in our variegated and diverse community. The democratic and consultative process with stakeholders has been concluded."
Chamisa said now that the consultation process has come to an end, the allocation committee is in the process of assessing and considering the proposals and requests from the various stakeholders.
Upon completion of this exercise, a Kuw-adzana East constituency all stakeholders meeting shall be convened to outline the allocation proposals for final consideration and endorsement.
"The resources shall be distributed accountably and the highest standards of excellence and transparency shall be the guiding compass in the sharing of this wonderful yet inadequate cake. For the avoidance of doubt, the full amount of          US$50 000 remains untouched and in safe custody of a local bank in the constituency account awaiting quick disbursement to the decided beneficiaries," he said. A fortnight ago Matinenga told the State media that only 107 lawmakers had complied with accounting requirements of the CDF, and he was planning to take legal action against defaulters.
Before the adjournment of the Senate on August 3, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told senators that one of the weaknesses of the CDF was that it lacked an enabling legislation.
The Finance Minister said a new law would be crafted before the end of the year on the use of the fund.
Biti further said he had told MPs from the House of Assembly and senators with legal backgrounds to craft the proposed framework of the law, but they had failed to do so.
"I am looking at coming up with an Act of Parliament concerning the CDF. Our initial theme was that it is a constituency thing. Therefore, the senator, MP and councilors must sign but unfortunately it is not happening," said Biti.
"There is a CDF in Malawi and Kenya with an Act of Parliament. We are looking at those and we will come up with an Act of Parliament."
Sources said the police could be roped in to investigate defaulting MPs in the event that Matinenga fails to sufficiently deal with the matter. The saga is a litmus test to both ZANU-PF and the MDC formations, which are being accused to doing little to fight corruption.
While several MPs have done commendably well by utilising the CDF for the betterment of the lives of their people, there are those whose behaviour has left a lot to be desired.
It is the conduct of these few MPs that might result in their areas, if not all the constituencies, being punished for their sins as one condition for the issuance of the CDF was that those who fail to account for them would not receive additional funding going forward.
There is real danger that Cabinet, which is currently scrounging for resources to fund critical government operations such as health and education, might suspend the initiative altogether due to abuse.
When the fund was established, Biti had struggled to convince his colleagues in Cabinet to have a budget specifically set aside for the development of constituencies.

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