Online Reporter
Emmanuel Kafe
Check Point Desk
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Chiredzi South legislator Joel Sithole on allegations of abusing public office after he allegedly misappropriated more than ZWG1.2 million from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
In a statement, ZACC said, “The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Member of Parliament for Chiredzi South, Joel Sithole, on charges of abuse of duty after he allegedly misappropriated over ZWG 1.2 million of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).”
The anti-graft body added that Sithole received ZWG1,234,150 (about US$50,000) from Parliament in August 2025 for community projects in his constituency.
“The funds were intended for development projects that included the construction of a classroom block and roofing of staff houses at Gwaseche Primary School and Makanani Clinic,” ZACC said.
However, investigators allege that Sithole, who chairs the CDF committee and is a signatory to its bank account, diverted the funds for personal use.
ZACC further stated: “Investigations established that Sithole, acting in common purpose with one Edson Chauke, who is still at large, transferred ZWG850,000 from the CDF account to a local wholesaler for the purchase of groceries.”
The legislator is also accused of spending a further ZWG418,516 at various grocery outlets, 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,” the Commission said.
Sithole is expected to appear before the Masvingo Magistrates Court on March 26, 2026, while police are still pursuing the second suspect.
