ZACC Arrests Mberengwa East MP Tasara Hungwe Over Alleged CDF Abuse

Tasara Hungwe, Member of Parliament for Mberengwa East

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Tasara Hungwe, Member of Parliament for Mberengwa East, on allegations of concealing a personal interest in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) transactions. In a statement issued on Friday, 27 March 2026, ZACC said Hungwe appeared before the Mberengwa Magistrate’s Court and was remanded out of custody to 1 April 2026.

According to investigators, the case centres on the alleged diversion of public funds under the Zimbabwe Constituency Development Fund. Media reports indicate that Hungwe is suspected of channelling more than ZiG 1.3 million (approximately US$53,000) into private-linked entities. Prosecutors allege that shortly after Mberengwa East received its CDF allocation in August 2025, Hungwe authorised transfers of:

• ZiG 799,641.32 to Tatiude (Pvt) Ltd

• ZiG 440,171.37 to Matquick Hardware (Pvt) Ltd

Both companies are reportedly linked to the legislator.

The funds were then allegedly routed through another firm, Simbaramabwe Construction and Hardware (Pvt) Ltd, before being transferred to a microfinance institution, where investigators say the money trail became unclear.

“Authorities suspect the funds were converted and paid out in US dollars,” a source close to the investigation said.

The Zimbabwe CDF programme is designed to support community projects such as schools, clinics, and infrastructure development. Funds are managed by local committees that include elected officials, councillors, and traditional leaders, with strict guidelines on accountability.

Governance expert Eldred Masunungure said alleged abuse of such funds undermines public trust:

“CDF resources are meant for grassroots development. Any diversion erodes confidence in public institutions and deprives communities of essential services.”

Hungwe becomes the third ZANU PF legislator arrested in 2026 over alleged CDF misuse, highlighting growing scrutiny on the handling of public funds. Earlier this year, Darlington Chiwa was arrested on allegations of diverting nearly ZiG 990,000 into personal accounts. He is accused of spending the funds on personal items, including groceries and building materials. His case remains before the courts. Similarly, Joel Sithole has been charged with abuse of duty after allegedly misappropriating over ZiG 1.2 million from his constituency allocation. ZACC alleges Sithole transferred large sums to a local wholesaler and spent part of the funds at retail outlets and hospitality establishments. He was recently granted US$500 bail by the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court and remanded to 24 April 2026.

The arrests come as ZACC steps up investigations into corruption in Zimbabwe's public funds management, particularly within decentralised funding mechanisms like the CDF.

Legal analyst Alex Magaisa said the cases could set an important precedent:

“Consistent enforcement of accountability laws is critical. These prosecutions signal that misuse of public funds may increasingly carry consequences.”

As the cases proceed through the courts, attention will focus on whether authorities can secure convictions and recover allegedly misused funds. The ZACC arrests of MPs over CDF funds in 2026 are likely to intensify debate around transparency, oversight, and governance in Zimbabwe’s public sector, particularly as communities continue to rely on these funds for essential development projects.

Tasara Hungwe arrest; ZACC CDF corruption Zimbabwe