CDF tokenist : Hwange Central MP
Nkosikhona Dibiti
Hwange Central Member of Parliament Hon. Daniel Molokele has vowed to vote for the scrapping of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) if and when the apportunity arises.
Speaking during an online engagement to discuss devolution funds with his constituents, the legislator stressed that the CDF overshadows the role parliamentarians have to play which is to provide oversight over the executive.
“We are not an extension of the executive in our mandate. Our major task is to provide a watchdog role on the functions of the executive,” he said.
Molokele further explained that the on spotlight on CDF shades more substantial funds that are designed for local community development.
In light of the CDF allocation for Hwange Central Constituency which has three rural wards and 14 urban wards, Molekele argued that the CDF is tokenist and designed to sway citizens from scrutinising the bigger funds that central government must avail to facilitate community development.
“How many of us on this platform know how much was allocated for Hwange under the District Development Fund,Devolution Fund , and the recent Covid 19 Fund?” quizzed Molokele.
Molokele further argued that the obsession with CDF funds which is but a tiny part of what government must provide to develop communities is distracting parliamentarians from discharging their constitutional duties while giving the executive a free pass as all scrutiny falls on CDF. He charged that government is supposed to avail important funds such as Covid 19 funds, DDF and the devolution funds but no one is looking at that.
“Our role in parliament is to play a watchdog role on the executive and also represent citizen views on issues that will strengthen our debate in parliament and pushing for issues of accounatbility,” he added.
Hon. Molokele said when MPs are engrossed in implementing activities, they are distracted from discharging their lawful duties. He further took a swipe at the tokenism enabled by CDF funds which are used by legislators to secure re-election.
“Once MPs become activity implementers their legislative oversight is overshadowed by activities in the constituencies, resultantly giving seating MPs another lifeline in parliament as CDF activities are largely used by citizens as a yardstick to retain MPs back to parliament.
We need to rethink on the CDF fund. Our 2020 allocation was used to paint 11 schools in the constituency which is a role the executive and its agencies have to play,” said Molokele.
Mthokozisi Ndebele, Director at Gender Accountability for Peace and Security(GAPS) said there is need for separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and the legislature. He said the primary role of Members of Parliament is legislative work and not community development.
“It is my view that the CDF was designed to ensure that members of Parliament remain relevant in the constituencies. MPs don’t have a role of implementing community development projects.The councillors are supposed to spearhead local development projects,” said Ndebele.
However, Kelvin Moyo, a Hwange resident said given that the CDF is the only fund that is visible amidst very little development projects, it remains important for Matabeleland.
“The CDF is of value to us in Matebeleland because we see less community development projects. Without the CDF, our 11 schools would not have been painted even though there is a ministry of Primary and Secondary Education responsible for that.
From a progresive point of view, despite being politicised, the fund helps in our communities in a small way. We should benefit from everything and anything that comes from government regardless of the amount,” said Moyo.
Government has allocated ZWL $420 milllion towards the Constituency Development Fund in the 2021 national budget , which will translate to ZWL$2 Million for Hwange Central Constituency.
Hon. Molokele went on to issue a break down of CDF disbursements since his tenure began in 2018 which amount to a sum total of USD 4,176.47.
“CDF for Hwange Central since 2018 is broken down as follows; in 2018 it was ZWL 50 000, for 2019, it was ZWL 80 000 , and in 2020 we received ZWL225 000. For three years, the total is ZWL 355 000 which is approximately 4,176.47 USD and 1,392USD per year,” said Molokele.
