By Virginia Njovo
Zanu PF has issued a prohibition order against Chiredzi West MP Darlington Chiwa, barring him from his constituency over allegations of misusing Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
The party’s Masvingo provincial executive imposed the order allegedly after receiving complaints from the people in his constituency who alleged that the funds were misappropriated.
The order bars the legislator from convening gatherings in his constituency or conduct any meeting until he is cleared by the disciplinary hearing scheduled for January 16.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson, Robson Mavhenyengwa, confirmed the development and the pending investigation.
“Yes, Cde Chiwa was issued a prohibition order over a matter to do with use of CDF funds. We are going to carry out investigations into the allegations raised against him,” Mavhenyengwa said.
He stated that as the party that deployed him, it is their duty to investigate the complaints that the funds were not used properly.
“If it is true then it will come out in the hearing, if it’s not he will be cleared,” Mavhenyengwa
Sources within the party said there were several MPs in the province who were facing similar allegations though they were yet to be issued with prohibition orders
However, Mavhenyengwa said Chiwa’s case was the only one formally before him so far and said if there were any other similar cases, they will be dealt with as they come.
“If we get any report we do investigate. So we investigate as reports come but for now we have only this case,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, Chiwa referred all questions to the party’s spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe and Mavhenyengwa saying they were the authorized media contacts.
However, some view the prohibition as a result of internal factional wars within Zanu PF, with various groups already preparing their candidates for future elections.
