…uses Zinwa as conduit
in plot to pocket public funds
in plot to pocket public funds
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Chiredzi West Member
of Parliament (MP) Farai Musikavanhu is having a hard time explaining why he
mentioned projects that have already been done in his application for the
Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
of Parliament (MP) Farai Musikavanhu is having a hard time explaining why he
mentioned projects that have already been done in his application for the
Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
In his application for the
fund, Musikavanhu claimed he needed the money to drill boreholes and buy pumps
for wards 2, 5, 6 and 8.
fund, Musikavanhu claimed he needed the money to drill boreholes and buy pumps
for wards 2, 5, 6 and 8.
TellZim News, however,
understands that those wards have already been covered by the previous CDF
released last year before the end of the term of Musikavanhu’s predecessor
Darlington Chiwa.
understands that those wards have already been covered by the previous CDF
released last year before the end of the term of Musikavanhu’s predecessor
Darlington Chiwa.
It is understood Chiwa did
the drilling work and purchased the pumps in the run-up to the Zanu PF primary
election last year when he was engaged in a bitter contest with Musikavanhu and
former Chiredzi town chairperson Francis Moyo for the right to represent the
ruling party in the July 30 harmonised elections.
the drilling work and purchased the pumps in the run-up to the Zanu PF primary
election last year when he was engaged in a bitter contest with Musikavanhu and
former Chiredzi town chairperson Francis Moyo for the right to represent the
ruling party in the July 30 harmonised elections.
Musikavanhu won the chaotic
race and then went on to win the parliamentary seat in the harmonised elections.
race and then went on to win the parliamentary seat in the harmonised elections.
Though Chiwa did the
drilling work at all the four spots, he managed to install a pump at only one
of them; the police station in Ward 2.
drilling work at all the four spots, he managed to install a pump at only one
of them; the police station in Ward 2.
He could not install the
rest of the pumps apparently because the Zimbabwe National Water Authority
(Zinwa), working under the influence of Musikavanhu, impounded them as intra-party
fights raged ahead of the elections.
rest of the pumps apparently because the Zimbabwe National Water Authority
(Zinwa), working under the influence of Musikavanhu, impounded them as intra-party
fights raged ahead of the elections.
Zinwa has held onto the three
pumps ever since despite the water crisis in the wards.
pumps ever since despite the water crisis in the wards.
When contacted for comment, Chiwa
confirmed the pumps were seized by Zinwa and taken to their offices where they remain
stuck. He said he too suspected Musikavanhu was plotting to use the pumps for
selfish reasons by pocketing his own CDF payout and presenting the seized pumps
as his own purchase.
confirmed the pumps were seized by Zinwa and taken to their offices where they remain
stuck. He said he too suspected Musikavanhu was plotting to use the pumps for
selfish reasons by pocketing his own CDF payout and presenting the seized pumps
as his own purchase.
“It seems Honourable Musikavanhu
has deprived residents of their right to water for a long time as he looks for
clever ways to divert the next CDF. I heard that when he applied for the CDF,
he mentioned projects that are non-existent as they have already been paid for.
Something is not right there because the drilling was done and the pumps are
already there,” said Chiwa.
has deprived residents of their right to water for a long time as he looks for
clever ways to divert the next CDF. I heard that when he applied for the CDF,
he mentioned projects that are non-existent as they have already been paid for.
Something is not right there because the drilling was done and the pumps are
already there,” said Chiwa.
When contacted for comment, Farai
Musikavanhu admitted he applied for funds to drill boreholes in wards 2, 5, 6
and 8, but claimed he did not know that the work was already done.
Musikavanhu admitted he applied for funds to drill boreholes in wards 2, 5, 6
and 8, but claimed he did not know that the work was already done.
“I was not aware that boreholes
had been drilled in those areas. On my CDF application form, I indeed indicated
that I wanted to drill boreholes in those areas not knowing the work had
already been done there.
had been drilled in those areas. On my CDF application form, I indeed indicated
that I wanted to drill boreholes in those areas not knowing the work had
already been done there.
“We later agreed with
Honourable Chiwa that in Ward 6, the borehole is contaminated with sewerage and
we needed an electric water pump and solar panels. I will buy those ones so
that we can start an irrigated nutritional garden in the ward,” said
Musikavanhu.
Honourable Chiwa that in Ward 6, the borehole is contaminated with sewerage and
we needed an electric water pump and solar panels. I will buy those ones so
that we can start an irrigated nutritional garden in the ward,” said
Musikavanhu.
Zinwa regional manager,
Peter Shotere admitted that his organisation was keeping the impounded pumps,
adding that he had initially thought they belonged to ‘command water’.
Peter Shotere admitted that his organisation was keeping the impounded pumps,
adding that he had initially thought they belonged to ‘command water’.
“Last year, we received
eight pumps from our provincial office and we were informed they belonged to
the command water programme. Two of them were allocated to Chiredzi North, two
to Chiredzi East and four to Chiredzi West. We later learnt that they had been
purchased using money from CDF,” said Shotere.
eight pumps from our provincial office and we were informed they belonged to
the command water programme. Two of them were allocated to Chiredzi North, two
to Chiredzi East and four to Chiredzi West. We later learnt that they had been
purchased using money from CDF,” said Shotere.
Other sources urged the
media to track how Musikavanhu will use the CDF, saying there were suspicions
he wanted to misappropriate the money to pay the many runner boys that did his
bidding in the chaotic primaries as well as in the general elections.
media to track how Musikavanhu will use the CDF, saying there were suspicions
he wanted to misappropriate the money to pay the many runner boys that did his
bidding in the chaotic primaries as well as in the general elections.
