Chiredzi West Member of Parliament Darlington Chiwa granted $200 bail.

Wilma Mavhengere

Chiredzi West, Member of Parliament, Darlington Chiwa, who is facing charges of allegedly embezzling Constituency Development Funds, has been granted bail of US$200 or 50 000 in ZiG currency.

Chiwa has been granted bail on the conditions that he must surrender the title deeds to his house as surety and hand over his passport pending trial.

The State had denied his release because he was likely to interfere with State witnesses. However, the court granted bail and warned the legislator not to interfere with any of the witnesses.

The legislator is charged with misappropriating funds meant for community development projects, allegedly spending the money on personal expenses, including beer, shoes, groceries and building materials.

According to the allegations, Chiwa, in his capacity as chairperson of the Chiredzi West Constituency Development Funds committee, manipulated other committee members who were signatories to the constituency account, compelling them to relinquish their responsibilities so that he became the sole signatory.

It is further alleged that after the Parliament of Zimbabwe disbursed the CDF funds, Chiwa diverted most of the money for personal use, channelling only about ZiG$270 000 towards community projects while allegedly squandering approximately ZiG$900 000.

The matter is still before the courts, and Chiwa will be back in court on the 19th February.