GWERU – Mberengwa East MP Tasara Hungwe appeared in court on Friday charged with corruption after allegedly directing Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money to two hardware companies in which he holds a personal shareholding.
The 45-year-old, who is the chairman of the constituency’s CDF committee, was not asked to plead during a brief appearance before Mberengwa magistrate Charity Tembo following his arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. He was released on $100 bail.
He faces a charge of corruptly concealing from a principal a personal interest in a transaction.
Prosecutor Ali Trycoise Matausi told the court that parliament deposited ZiG1,341,500 into the Mberengwa East CDF account at POSB Zvishavane on August 14, 2025.
Days later, Hungwe chaired a CDF Committee meeting at which he steered resolutions directing payments of ZiG799,641.32 to Tatiude (Pvt) Ltd and ZiG440,171.37 to Matquick (Pvt) Ltd – both companies in which he is a shareholder.
He did not declare his interest in either company to the committee and did not recuse himself from the deliberations, the court heard. The payments – totalling ZiG1,239,812.69 – were made on August 19, 2025, into bank accounts of the two companies, to which Hungwe is a signatory.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that Hungwe engaged in bid-rigging during the procurement process by presenting his two companies as entirely separate and competing entities, thereby crowding out Tangoshiri (Pvt) Ltd, the only genuinely independent company on the comparative schedule.
The complainant in the matter is the state, represented by Kennedy Chokuda, the Clerk of Parliament.
As part of his bail conditions, Hungwe was ordered to report to Mataga Police Station once a fortnight, not interfere with state witnesses and continue residing at his Mataga, Mberengwa address. He was remanded to April 1, 2026.
The CDF, established under Section 18 of the Public Finance Management Act, is intended to fund community development projects such as schools, clinics, bridges and dip tanks.
Committee chairs are required to manage procurement transparently and in the interests of their constituencies.
Hungwe faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
He is represented by Tinamate Midzi of H. Tafa and Associates.
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