Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
CheckPoint Desk
THE Government has warned lawmakers and local authority officials against the looting of devolution funds, declaring that “heads will roll” for those found guilty of abusing the facility.
The stern warning comes as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has already begun pouncing on Members of Parliament (MPs) and officials accused of siphoning the funds, which are strictly reserved for community development.
Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, said Treasury has intensified the disbursement of the constitutionally mandated 5 percent national revenue allocation following a strong fiscal performance last year.
In an interview, Eng Muguti stressed that the money is strictly for “emotional projects” that directly impact the livelihoods of ordinary citizens and not for the personal comfort of officials.
“Devolution funds are for national projects. They are not for salaries; they are not for the personal welfare of legislators,” said Eng Muguti.
“Devolution funds are controlled by the councillors and the local councils and their management.”
The warning comes as the Second Republic ramps up its fight against corruption, with ZACC already moving in on Members of Parliament suspected of siphoning resources intended for grassroots infrastructure.
Eng Muguti stressed that the funds must be utilised for tangible social upliftment, citing water projects, the upgrading of schools, and the construction of new clinics as primary targets.
He further noted that the funds should be used to renovate libraries and repair critical feeder roads to ensure “trafficability” for communities accessing hospitals, schools, and markets.
“We want to see those funds being used in the upliftment of communities. Central government will continue to monitor what the provincial level is doing and what the local level is doing,” he added.
He also reiterated that the central government would not hesitate to intervene where provincial or local levels fail to account for the public purse.
“Heads will continue to roll for those who abuse devolution funds, which is 5 percent of all the national revenues collected in line with the constitution in any given financial year. As it is, you know, last year we collected so much revenue, and Treasury is going to be disbursing and has already started disbursing devolution funds.”
Recently, ZACC arrested Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South Joel Sithole, on charges of abuse of duty after he allegedly misappropriated over ZiG1,2 million of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Sithole allegedly received a ZiG 1 234 150 (equivalent to US$50 000) CDF disbursement from the Parliament of Zimbabwe in August 2025.
After receiving the funds, Sithole, who serves as the chairperson of the CDF committee and is a signatory to its bank account, allegedly diverted the money.
Investigations established that Sithole, acting in common purpose with one Edson Chauke, who is still at large, transferred ZiG 850 000 from the CDF account to a local wholesaler for the purchase of groceries.
He reportedly also spent ZiG418 516 at grocery shops, hotels, and beer outlets.
To conceal the alleged misappropriation, Sithole later purchased 100 bags of cement and a few roofing sheets for a different school to create the impression that project work had commenced.
In January this year, ZACC arrested Chiredzi West Constituency Member of Parliament, Darlington Chiwa on allegations of theft after he allegedly diverted the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
Chiwa, who is also the chairperson of the Chiredzi West CDF is the sole signatory to the constituency bank account after he allegedly manipulated other community members to rescind their responsibilities over the account.
Investigations established that in April 2025, the Parliament of Zimbabwe transferred ZiG$1 332 430 to the Chiredzi West constituency account and the accused transferred the funds into his personal accounts.
Chiwa reportedly used funds amounting to ZiG993 241 to buy building materials, groceries, shoes, and beer for himself and channelled only ZiG270 427 towards constituency projects. All the cases are still before the courts.
