Epworth MP Accused of Misusing Constituency Development Funds

Epworth Member of Parliament, Tayedzwa Mutana, is facing serious allegations of misusing Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and inflating borehole drilling costs, raising fresh concerns about corruption and weak accountability in local development projects.

According to reports, several boreholes drilled under Mutana’s supervision are dry and non-functional, despite substantial funds being allocated for water provision projects. A ZANU-PF Harare provincial member, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that only a few boreholes in the constituency are producing water, while residents continue to suffer from acute water shortages.

“Most of the boreholes drilled in his constituency are dry, and he is evasive whenever we confront him on how he utilised the CDF allocation. Only a few boreholes have water, and people are fighting daily, with long queues being a routine for Epworth residents,” said the party official.

The official further alleged that Mutana failed to provide satisfactory documentation on how tenders were awarded and how funds were spent.

“He is too busy monitoring his projects using CDF allocations whilst Epworth residents live in constant thirst. We confronted him about the quotations and receipts from contractors, but he produced nothing,” the source added.

These allegations echo longstanding concerns about the management of CDF projects across the country. Analysts have repeatedly pointed out issues such as weak monitoring, poor contract management, and ineffective quality control, which often lead to delays, underutilisation of funds, and incomplete projects.

Experts warn that inflating prices for community projects like borehole drilling diverts resources from essential services, undermining development goals. Inadequate oversight and lack of enforcement mechanisms, they say, can also result in abandoned projects and financial losses.

The alleged mismanagement in Epworth underscores broader challenges in the CDF programme’s governance framework, which critics argue has become vulnerable to corruption and political abuse.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Honourable Tayedzwa Mutana were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.

Meanwhile, residents of Epworth continue to endure persistent water shortages, queuing daily at the few functioning boreholes — a stark reminder of how misused development funds directly impact ordinary citizens.