February 23, 2012 15:48 PM

Audit Of Use Of Zimbabwe's Constituency Development Yields First Scalp

HARARE, Feb 23 (BERNAMA-NNN-NEW ZIANA) -- Investigations into the use of the US$50,000 granted to each member of Zimbabwe's Parliament under the Constituency Development Fund have claimed their first scalp with the Member of the House of Assembly for the St Mary's constituency, Marvelous Khumalo, being charge with converting US$27,350 to his personal use.

Khumalo appeared before Magistrate Anita Tshuma at the Rotten Row Court here Wednesday and was remanded out of custody until March 7 on US$300 bail.

St Mary's constituency is in Harare's dormitory town of Chitungwiza and was won on an Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ticket.

The State, led by Prosecutor David Magwegwe, alleged that some time towards the end of 2010, the government unveiled a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which was meant to cater for development projects to benefit communities of all the constituencies in the country.

Magwegwe said the purpose, objective and administration of the fund was outlined in the constituency and accounting officers instruction, copies of which were issued to every MP, including Khumalo.

Magwegwe told the court in November 2010, the St Mary's CDF committee opened a bank account at the Metropolitan Bank main branch in Harare.

During the period Nov 12, 2010 to Dec 30 the same year, the Treasury transferred US$50,000 in trances of US$19,000, US$19,000 and US$12,000, respectively into the St Mary's CDF bank account.

On Jan 2, 2011 Khumalo, in his capacity as the MP and chairman of the constituency, allegedly corruptly used some of the money to purchase a Bedford truck from United Tyre Service without the knowledge and approval of both the St Mary's CDF committee and the National Management Committee.

Investigations revealed that Khumalo was hiring out the truck for his personal gain at the expense of the community which never benefited from its use and it was not registered under the constituency.

Magwegwe said between Nov 17, 2010 and Feb 8, 2011 Khumalo made the councillors to sign blank withdrawal slips and he made various withdrawals from the St Mary's CDF account. He withdrew US$5,000 which he converted for his personal use.

When auditors from the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs went to audit the constituency account, Khumalo produced a quotation from Madedale Enterprise Pvt Ltd which he inscribed the word "receipt" to purport that a payment of US$5,000 was made to the company for sinking of boreholes.

However, investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission established that Madedale Enterprise did not sink any boreholes in St Mary's constituency and no payment was made to the company by the St Mary's CDF committee.

Khumalo gave US$3,000 each to five councillors and retained US$3,000 which was meant for Councillor Adam Puzo of Ward 1 who was not present. It is alleged that Khumalo converted the money that was meant for Puzo to his own use.

Magwegwe said during the audit that the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs carried out Khumalo in a bid to cover up for his offence forged some receipts to prove that the money was used towards the development of the constituency.

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga recently named 10 MPs who are yet to account for the CDF and said he had since the referred the cases to the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

-- BERNAMA-NNN-NEW ZIANA

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Audit Of Use Of Zimbabwe's Constituency Development Yields First Scalp