Millions of US$ squandered as 118 Zimbabwe MPs fail to account for Constituency Development Funds

Only 52 out of the 170 constituencies that accessed Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations in 2025 have submitted acquittals accounting for how the money was used, casting light on accountability, transparency and the future disbursement of the funds.

 

These latest acquittal figures expose broader governance challenges surrounding the management of public funds and oversight by Parliament itself since 118 constituencies are yet to account how they used the money.

 

This was revealed at the National Assembly on Thursday, after Speaker, Jacob Mudenda, expressed concern over the low compliance rate by legislators despite repeated reminders from Parliament.

 

“Following the announcement made on 18 February 2026, reminding Hon. Members of the requirements to submit Constituency Development Fund (CDF) acquittals, I noted with concern that only 52 out of the 170 constituencies that accessed funding in 2025 have submitted their acquittals,” Mudenda said.

 

“The Hon. Members who have not submitted their acquittals should do so without exception by 29 May 2026 in terms of Article 14 of the CDF Constitution.”

 

The development places the spotlight back on the CDF programme, which over the years has been plagued by allegations of delayed disbursements, weak accountability and political grandstanding over projects funded through the initiative.

 

The CDF, introduced in 2010 and later formalised through the Constituency Development Fund Act of 2022, was designed to decentralise development and allow communities to identify and implement priority projects through their elected representatives.

 

Each constituency is allocated US$50 000 or ZiG equivalent meant for projects such as classroom blocks, clinics, boreholes, bridges and other community infrastructure.

 

Although Parliament is demanding acquittals from MPs who received the funds, some legislators previously complained that they had not received any allocations at all.

 

On 18 February this year, during parliamentary proceedings, lawmakers questioned how they could be expected to submit acquittals for money they had not accessed.

 

“I also have to inform the House that all Hon. Members who accessed the Constituency Development Fund in 2025 are required to submit their acquittals and returns in terms of Article 14 of the Constituency Development Fund Constitution, as read together with Article 18 of the Accounting Officer’s Manual,” the Acting Speaker told Parliament then.

 

“This is in preparation for accessing the 2026 allocations. Hon. Members who do not submit their returns will not be able to access any new funding.”

 

This was challenged by Warren Park MP Shakespear Hamauswa, who argued that some constituencies had not received the money.

 

“The point of privilege is emanating from the fact that if we do not acquit, we are not given money. For some of us, we do not have anything to acquit because we did not receive any funds,” Hamauswa said.

 

“As you are sitting on that Chair, can you help us by investigating so that we get the funds that we are supposed to get to our constituencies because our constituents are asking for those funds?”

 

The Acting Speaker responded by promising to engage the Ministry of Finance over the delays.

 

“Your funds should come. I will engage Finance so that you get your money. There is nothing that is stopping it,” he said.

 

Despite such assertions, tensions surrounding the fund are not new.

 

Last year, disputes over delayed disbursements reignited debate over whether the Treasury was undermining local development and public trust.

 

Emakhandeni- Luveve MP, Descent Bajila, accused the Treasury of fuelling frustration in communities after some constituencies reportedly went years without receiving allocations.

 

“Some constituencies have not received CDF since 2022 and this is the time citizens who are affected to take action against Treasury,” Bajila said at the time.

 

“When MPs consult citizens, their expectations on development grow. Delays cause a lot of despair and mistrust. Treasury must be called out for fuelling public mistrust on state processes and citizens must lead that process.”

 

Meanwhile, the matter also exposed growing political tensions within Parliament over how the CDF is publicly framed and who ultimately gets credit for development projects funded through the programme.

 

During Thursday’s parliamentary sitting, Zaka North MP Ophias Murambiwa praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa for various infrastructure and development projects in his constituency, including projects funded through CDF and devolution allocations.

 

“Right now, we are preparing for the official opening of Chinyazvivi Clinic,” Murambiwa said.

 

“All these things were built through the CDF, which was allocated to the constituency and we also use the devolution funds for all these projects.”

 

He said people in his constituency had asked him to thank Mnangagwa for developmental projects taking place across the country.

 

However, his remarks triggered objections from opposition legislator Corban Madzivanyika, who warned that excessive praise of the President risked undermining Parliament’s oversight role.

 

“As much as we should acknowledge the President of the country, it is not wise to just drop the name of the President in vain,” Madzivanyika said.

 

“Remember Mr. Speaker Sir, we are an oversight institution. Our mandate is to bring the President and the Executive to account.”

 

He added that constant praise could create the perception that Parliament had been “captured by the Presidium”.

 

The Speaker however, dismissed the concerns, saying there was nothing wrong with acknowledging national development under the leadership of the Head of State.

 

“I do not see any Standing Order that has been violated by the national development,” Mudenda ruled.

 

“In fact, the Head of State in Government is the Head of State of all people of Zimbabwe, regardless of their political affiliation.” *_-CITE_*

 

 

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