THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has arrested Chiredzi West lawmaker, Darlington Chiwa, on charges of diverting Constituency Development Funds (CDF) meant for public projects.
Zacc spokesman Kindness Paradza confirmed his arrest.
Chiwa, who also served as chairperson of the Chiredzi West CDF, is accused of consolidating control over the constituency bank account by allegedly manipulating other community signatories to relinquish their responsibilities, leaving him as the sole signatory.
“Investigations reveal that in April 2025, Parliament transferred ZWG$1 332 430.00 — equivalent to about US$50 000 — into the constituency’s CDF account,” Paradza said.
“Soon after, the funds were allegedly moved into Chiwa’s personal bank accounts.”.
According to investigators, ZWG993 241 was 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, a fraction of what had been allocated for development.
To conceal the diversion, Chiwa allegedly submitted fraudulent acquittal documents to Parliament, falsely claiming that the entire amount had been used for school development projects within the constituency.
Paradza said the MP was arrested on Friday and appeared before the Masvingo Magistrate Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail ruling.
Parliament of Zimbabwe is the complainant in this matter.
Observers said the case cast a harsh spotlight on the management of public development funds, raising fresh questions about accountability, oversight, and the vulnerability of community resources to abuse by those entrusted to protect them.
Zimbabwe introduced the CDF in 2010 to decentralise development, enabling MPs to fund local projects like schools, clinics and empowerment programmes.
The implementation of the programme has faced issues with accountability and a formal Act was passed in 2022 to improve transparency and proper management of funds.
MPs get up to the equivalent of US$50 000 year from the CDF, but the scheme has over the years been disrupted by Zimbabwe’s currency problems.