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Biti, joining the fray shouting unprintable vulgar words at ZiFM radio journalist Garikai Fadzi. The journalist was doing a follow-up story on the use of the US$50 000 Constituency Development Fund which Mr Biti received as House of Assembly member for Harare East.
The ZiFM story followed a Facebook posting by Harare Residents’ Trust co-ordinator Mr Precious Shumba who requested that Mr Biti should account for the money.
“From several interviews conducted so far, we have every reason to believe that the funds were not transparently used,” said Mr Shumba.
“For a start, we have visited the reported CDF projects in your constituency – the wall at Highlands Clinic, wall for Tafara District Office (Ward 46) and the Musika (Ward 9) at the Msasa Old Bus Rank near Amby Post Office at the intersection of George Avenue and Neo Street.
“Surely, if you are honourable and expecting residents to give you another chance in Parliament, you must give us concrete evidence that you did everything above board. This investigation by the HRT into allegations of rampant abuse of CDF funds follows up on letters that were delivered to all the MPs in Harare whereupon the HRT demanded that you give account of how CDF was used.”
Mr Shumba said he would ensure the use of the funds was a serious issue in the harmonised elections.
He challenged all MPs to account for the funds, adding that those who failed to do so would be voted out.
But Mr Biti chose to be abusive when responding to questions from the journalist.
“Ende mukaita zvemangamanga ndinokusuwayi to the m****a (vulgar word). Wazvihwa here, mukomana? The three councillors ndovanosaina. I do not involve myself with those things,” he said.
He said the funds, amounting to $22 000, were in a bank account.
“Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people,” said Mr Biti.
“Look at the money that is used and the money that is in the bank. Do not make me answer zvinhu zvema stupid people.
“Do not ask me a stupid question. Unofunga ndingabe kamari ikako? Unofunga kuti ndigabe kamari ikako? The money is in a bank. We have not used the money. Wakamboinzwa inonzi Harare Residents’ Trust?”
Mr Biti said he accounted for the money and that he was not a signatory to the account, adding that his name had never been mentioned among the people who abused the CDF.
Referring the journalist to his secretary, Patience Nyangare, Mr Biti said three councillors from the constituency were the signatories to the fund.
Mr Biti alleged the Harare Residents’ Trust was a non-existent structure and was made up of Zanu-PF “crooks”.
He said he would not account to a non-existent structure and alleged that the reporter had been sent to tarnish his image.
“I know the people who are sending you,” he charged.
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Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said while he would have wanted to audit the use of the funds in all constituencies before the expiry of the current Parliament at midnight on Saturday, there was no law that stopped the remaining funds to be carried to the next Parliament.
He said at least 16 constituencies were yet to be audited, but he could not say how many had not yet exhausted the fund.
Political scientist and Tsholotsho North legislator Professor Jonathan Moyo said the failure by Mr Biti to use the allocated funds was proof that Minister Matinenga was a failure.
“The fund should be exhausted within the life of the Seventh Parliament,” he said. “The case of Biti raises questions of maladministration of the fund by (Minister) Matinenga.
He should not have been given that mandate because his ministry does not have capacity to administer the fund.
“The fund should have been administered by a ministry with presence at the local level like the Ministry of Local Government.”
Reacting to the assault on Fadzi, Prof Moyo said Mr Biti had proved that he was not fit for public office.
The MDC-T recently attacked several journalists among them Chronicle’s Mashudu Netsianda and Zimbabwe Independent’s Herbert Moyo.
This was after MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai issued a threat to journalists who do not toe his party line that all hell would break loose on them.
Online Reporter