adminVICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told Parliament that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) will be re-introduced as soon as Cabinet has approved the Bill meant to guide the use of the funds.
He, however, said the funds will not cater for the 60 women Parliamentarians elected under the proportional representation. VP Mnangagwa made the remarks while responding to Mutasa South National Assembly Member Cde Irene Zindi’s question on what measures Government was taking to re-introduce CDF.
The CDF was first introduced in Zimbabwe in 2010. After an audit was carried out, it revealed about 20 cases of extreme abuse of the fund. Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa during presentation of the 2015 National Budget said $10,5 million would go towards CDF, which translated to $50 000 per constituency. He, however, said the allocations to constituencies would be done once a CDF Bill had been brought before Parliament and passed.
“When it was introduced (CDF), there was no legislation to govern or regulate its implementation. During the First Session of the Eighth Parliament, there was no allocation for that purpose. However, Hon. Members of Parliament insisted in the consultations, that they view the CDF as very important for purposes of assisting Members of Parliament to develop their constituencies,” said VP Mnangagwa.
“As the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, we then made principles for that Bill, which went to Cabinet and were approved. We drafted the Bill which went to the Cabinet Committee on legislation and has been approved.
“The process now is for the Bill to be tabled here in Parliament for Hon. Members to debate it and if agreed, it will be passed into law. So, we are seized with the process of bringing the Bill to Parliament after the processes which I have mentioned.”
MDC proportional representative Member in Parliament Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi–Mushonga asked whether the funds will be extended to 60 women Parliamentarians elected on proportional representation system which she felt deserved a share.
In his response VP Mnangagwa said: “As the name implies, Constituency Development Fund is a fund targeted at developing constituency programmes and hence, it will only be directed to honourable members with constituencies and not non-constituency members. Since this is a Bill, maybe there could be a change of heart regarding this matter.
However, as it stands, it is only for constituency-based Members of Parliament.”
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter