…accuse human rights monitor of being an opposition project
By Staff Reporter
In a dramatic turn of events, Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi has accused the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) of being an opposition project after being exposed by the organization’s damning report of his alleged discriminatory practices against wards that didn’t vote for him.
The allegations came from the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)’s May report, which accused Mutodi of declaring that Wards 4, 28, and 29 would be excluded from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Devolution programmes because they did not vote for him.
“In a case of political discrimination, the MP for Bikita South openly declared that Wards 4, 28, and 29 would be excluded from development programmes because they did not vote for him,” reads part of the report.
However, Mutodi came out guns blazing strongly denying the allegations that he vowed to sideline certain wards from development initiatives due to their voting patterns, describing the claims as baseless and politically driven.
“Stop rumour-mongering. There is no Ward 28 in my constituency. All wards voted well for me, and there will be no discrimination in development projects. Your source is flawed, the ZPP is an opposition-sponsored report,” said Mutodi.
He said he did not control devolution funds, which are managed by the Minister of State in consultation with provincial and ward councilors and said the constituency was yet to receive its share of the CDF.
“I do not control devolution funds, they are controlled by the Minister of State in consultation with the provincial and ward councilors. Currently Bikita South has not received the CDF,” said Mutodi.
Mutodi said he was sponsoring constituency-wide sports initiative to unite people so there was no way he could be sidelining other wards.
“Right now all 11 wards are participating in the Energy Mutodi Soccer Tournament freely and on equal opportunity basis so I am not excluding anyone,” said Mutodi.
TellZim News recently rated Masvingo MPs and Mutodi was rated one of the worst as his electorate claimed that he was now a visitor to the constituency only coming when there is a big event.
The ZPP report also raised broader concerns about political discrimination in Masvingo Province, including a separate incident in Bikita East where ward 21 councilor Vengai Muchini allegedly said food aid would be restricted to ZANU PF supporters.
“In Masvingo province, Bikita East Constituency Ward 21 Councilor Vengai Muchini declared on May 7 2025 that he will remove community members from the list of food aid beneficiaries based on their perceived or actual political affiliation.
“Muchini, who oversees the food distribution process, insisted that only confirmed ZANU PF supporters would receive aid, and further declared that government department of Social Welfare officials would not be permitted to collect or review the beneficiary lists, effectively consolidating partisan control over what should be an impartial, life-saving intervention aimed at drought-affected households,” reads part of the report.
