By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO – The case involving Chiredzi West legislator Darlington Chiwa, who stands accused of misusing Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and gross misconduct, has dragged on for months, with the matter once again remanded to October 19, 2026.
Chiwa appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura on September 14, 2026 ordered that Chiwa’s passport remain in the custody of the court, saying the arrangement was necessary in the interests of justice.
The magistrate also ordered Chiwa to report once every month, on the last Friday of each month.
The case relates to allegations that Chiwa misused CDF allocations meant for development projects in Chiredzi West.
“His passport will remain in the custody of the court for the sake of justice. He must report once on the last Friday of each month, while the title deeds will be released until October 16, 2026.” Said Magistrate Bepura.
The matter had earlier been before the courts, with the State indicating that key documents were still being processed.
Chiwa was arrested in January 2026 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) following investigations into the alleged looting of CDF funds. Prosecutors alleged that in April 2025, Parliament transferred ZWG1,332,430 (about US$50,000) into the constituency’s CDF account for community projects.
Investigators said Chiwa consolidated control over the account by allegedly manipulating other signatories to relinquish their responsibilities, leaving him as the sole signatory.
The funds were then allegedly moved into his personal bank accounts, with ZWG993,241 reportedly spent on personal items including building materials, groceries, shoes, and beer.
Only ZWG270,427 is said to have been directed toward actual constituency projects.
The allegations also resulted in disciplinary action by ZANU PF, which had issued a prohibition order barring Chiwa from convening meetings and conducting political activities in his constituency.
However, in July, the party lifted the prohibition order and deferred its disciplinary proceedings against Chiwa until the conclusion of the court proceedings.
In a letter dated July 14, 2026, ZANU PF Secretary General Advocate Jacob Mudenda said the party’s Politburo had upheld the decision to defer the disciplinary matter because the allegations overlapped with the court proceedings.
The party had charged Chiwa with alleged misuse of CDF and gross misconduct following complaints received by the ZANU PF Masvingo Provincial Executive.
