HARARE – Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested a sitting Member of Parliament over alleged abuse of public funds, in a case that once again puts the spotlight on the management of Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed the arrest of Joel Sithole, accusing him of misappropriating over ZWG 1.2 million meant for community development projects in Chiredzi South.
In a statement, ZACC said:
“Joel Sithole allegedly received a ZWG 1,234,150.00 (equivalent to USD 50,000) CDF disbursement from the Parliament of Zimbabwe in August 2025… 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.”
Instead, investigators allege the funds were diverted. ZACC said:
“Investigations established that Sithole… transferred ZWG 850,000 from the CDF account to a local wholesaler for the purchase of groceries. He reportedly also spent ZWG 418,516.00 at grocery shops, hotels, and beer outlets.”
The commission further revealed attempts to conceal the alleged abuse:
“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.”
Sithole, who chairs the CDF committee and is a signatory to its account, is expected to appear before the Masvingo Magistrates Court on 26 March 2026. A co-accused, Edson Chauke, is reportedly still at large.
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The case adds to a growing list of accountability concerns surrounding CDF funds, which are allocated to MPs to support grassroots development. Over the years, the Office of the Auditor-General Zimbabwe has repeatedly flagged widespread misuse, poor record-keeping, and lack of transparency in both Parliament-managed funds and local authorities.
Governance analysts say the arrest signals a renewed push to enforce accountability, but warn that systemic reforms are needed to restore public trust. Without stronger oversight, they argue, funds meant for schools, clinics, and community infrastructure risk continuing to be diverted, undermining service delivery at the local level.
As the case heads to court, it is likely to reignite debate on whether Zimbabwe’s current CDF framework is fit for purpose, or in urgent need of tightening.
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