State withdraws charges

himself a lorry and pocketed part of the US$50 000 CDF money.
Khumalo (36) was facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer and three counts of theft.
Prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe told presiding magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma that the State was withdrawing the charges before plea and will proceed by way of summons when the docket is ready. He furnished the court with a letter of authority from the Attorney General’s Office.
“Charges before you have been withdrawn before plea at the insistence of the State,” Ms Tshuma said.
Khumalo who is among other legislators arrested for abusing CDF funds becomes the third Member of Parliament to have charges withdrawn before plea after Bulawayo legislator, Albert Mhlanga (MDC) and Magunje legislator Franco Ndambakuwa (Zanu-PF) had their charges withdrawn. Kariba legislator Cleopas Machacha is still before the courts on the same charges.
It is alleged that in November 2010, the Government unveiled the CDF for projects to benefit communities countrywide and in November 2010, the St Mary’s CDF committee opened an account with Metropolitan Bank. On January 2 last year, Khumalo reportedly used the money to buy a Bedford lorry registration number 538-649 M from United Tyre Services which he was hiring out for personal gain.